Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 161: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

— —— . — 148 charitable purposes according to your own discre- tion—perhaps in the theatrical world—amongst your poorer brethren and sisters in the profes- sion "a “No, sir!” I emphatically said; for I felt as if this were merely a delicate way of making me a present of the thousand pounds. “There is your money, sir!—and I thank God that from my own resources I am enabled to dispense a few little charities from time to time. I shall now take my departure.” Thus speaking, I bowed to Sir Hugh Ward, and at once issued from the room. There was a foot- man in the hall, who immediately opened the front door. The carriage was still waiting opposite the house; and the very moment that I made my ap- pearance on the threshold, the expert and trust- worthy young footman who thought he had been playing his master’s game so nicely, opened the door of the vehicle for me to take my seut therein. Bat quickly drawing down my veil, I hastened away, without taking the slightest notice of that obsequious attentive lacquey. I was fortunate in obtaining a cab at a little distance ; and I hastened home to Great Ormond Street. (Se CHAPTER XCI. THE SURGEON'S ANNOUNCEMENT. Ir was long past midnight when I reached my dwelling; and on arriving there I was glad to find that my absence had not produced so much un- easiness or consternation as I had been anticipat- ing. The maid-servant who had attended me at the theatre, went back to my dressing-room to fetch my jewel-casket which she had forgotten ; and when she came forth again, she looked vainly around for what she believed to be the Marquis of Campanella’s equipage. She concluded that I had not chosen to wait for her, on account of my anxiety to see Mary Glentworth;—and she ac- cordingly took a eab home. When she found that I had not arrived, she informed Beda of what had occurred to separate us at the door of the theatre ; and they were both surprised at my absence. But it was not until the lapse of about an hour that this surprise began to grow into uneasiness; for they feared lest I should have been taken ill at the Marquis of Campaneila’s mansion,—whither they had no doubt that [ had gone. Indeed, they were just thinking of sending off to make some inquiry, when I arrived in the cab. Under these circumstances I did not consider it necessary to enter into a long explanation of all that had occurred: I therefore suffered my depen- dants to believe that I had really been with my friends the Campanellas; and I hastily threw out some sufficient excuse to acquit myself of the im- putation of heartlessness in having apparently neglected my friend Mary Glentworth. But now in reference to Mary herself. Beda, on hastening away from the theatre in my car- riage, had proceeded at once to Lincoln’s Inn Fields, where she was fortunate enough in finding the celebrated Doctor Manvers at home. He at once consented to accompany her: but when he and Beda arrived in Great Ormond Street, Mary ~ NS eeeeeeeEeEOEEEeE—eEeEEEEeEeEeEeEeE——E—eE————EEee ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. Glentworth was out of all danger, and had sunk into a serene slumber. Mr. Doveton, the surgeon, acquainted Doctor Manvers with the particulars of all that had occurred; and the eminent phy- sician, having delivered his opinion, took his departure. Mary had remained wrapped in slumber from that moment: Mr. Doveton had gone home: and thus I found the house more tranquil than I had expected. I retired to rest— after having stolen on tiptoe into Mary’s room to assure myself that she was sleeping tranquilly; and slumber was not long in visiting my own eyes, for I was thoroughly exhausted in mind and body. I nevertheless rose at a tolerably early hour in the morning: and I hastened to Mary’s chamber. Beda, having slept in her room, was already up; and Mary, who had been awake for a few minutes, was conversing with her. “ My dear friend,” I exclaimed, embracing Miss Glentworth, “ you were very ill last night!” “But I am quite well this morning,” she an- swered somewhat quickly. “Indeed, I think ry illness must have been a great deal exagge- rated 4 *“ Miss Glentworth fancies,” said Beda, “ that it was perfectiy unnecessary to callin the medics] men — that if was a mere common fainting fit >»? “Ob, my dear Beda!” exclaimed Mary, “I know that everything was done for the best; and not for a moment must you make me seem thankless or ungracious in Miss Percy’s eyes!” * At all events you feel much better this morn- ing,” I said, “ and that is the essential !” “ Much better!” ejaculated Mary: “I feel per- fectly well! Yes—I can assure you, I never felt better in my life! I suppose, Beda, that the physician whom you fetched——what was his name ?” “ Doctor Manvers,” interjected both myself and Beda. : “ Yes— Doctor Manvers,” resumed Mary Glent- worth. “I suppose that he did not stay a mint‘e, when he found that I had recovered from the fit and had gone quietly off to sleep?” * Ob, yes!” responded Beda: “ Doctor Manvers remained for at least twenty minutes in conversa- tion with Mr. Doveton.” “Where?” asked Mary. “Tn the drawing-room, after having visited you for a moment in this chamber. But you were sleeping ———” “Now, my dear Ellen,” interrupted Mary Glentworth, suddenly turning her eyes upon me, and speaking almost with a degree of petulance, *T do not want to have these doctors visiting me again! I dislike doctors—I have no confidence in them AJ “Hush, my dear Mary!” I said: “you must not talk in this manner! The public at large are under the greatest of obligations to the medical profession r “Tt may be so,” said Mary curtly: “but I for one However,” she suddenly exclaimed, “I am quite well! Iam just going to get up and dress for breakfast—and therefore so far as I am con- cerned, I do not want to have any more to do with doctors—neither do I wish to see themif they call.” I now left Mary Glentworth’s chamber, re. ECORNICLOOC) (C —— aS SSS === tS Ss SSS SSS eres neers eee (EO)