Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 162: what you’re looking at

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

ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, joiced to perceive that she was so much improved in health, and thinking very little of her petulant and even ill-tempered remarks: for as I have before stated, her disposition had undergone a con- siderable change during the last few months, ever since the discovery of her parentage, her mother’s shame, and the fact that she had been bestowing her heart’s affections upon her own half-brother. She presently came down to breakfast; and she looked very well, considering the severity of the illness of a few hours which she had experienced on the preceding evening. Her cheeks were slightly pale, and there was a faint bluish tint, just perceptible around the eyes. But in other respects she seemed better than usual—for there was more gaiety in her tone—she appeared to converse with a lightness and a blitheness which for months past she had not displayed. Yet it once or twice struck me during the breakfast-hour, that there was something forced in this manifesta- tion of good spirits on Mary Glentworth’s part, and that she was affecting a gaiety which she did not altogether feel in reality. Scarcely, however, did a suspicion of this sort enter my mind, when I banished it; for it was grateful to my heart to be enabled to entertain the idea that my friend was recovering somewhat of her lost spirits — while on the other hand it was painful to harbour the thought that she had any new source of trouble or annoyance which she was endeavouring to con- ceal. After breakfast, Mary Glentworth hastened up to her own chamber—desiring Beda, whom she happened to encounter in the hall, to tell Mr. Doveton, if he called, that she was so completely restored to health as to be enabled to dispense with his services. It did not seem to strike her that there was something impolite, rude, and most unladylike in this method of dismissing a medical attendant: and as I was determined that Mr. Doveton, who was a very excellent and kind- hearted man, should not be treated with so much disrespect, I gave instructions that when he called he-was to be conducted into my presence. Not many minutes after I had issued this order, the surgeon arrived at the house; and he was shown to the room where I was seated. “How is my patient this morning?” he in- quired, as he took the chair which I indicated. “Miss Glentworth declares that she is quite well,” I answered. “Indeed? and yet it may be so! events I had better see her me “Not unless you think it absolutely necessary,” I rejoined. “ We all have our peculiarities—and my friend Mary entertains aw prejudice on a point to which I will not more particularly allude.” Mr. Doveton looked very hard at me for a few | moments; and I could not help thinking that there was something more or less significant in the way in which he thus regarded me. Indeed, me- thought that he was studying to ascertain if there were any ulterior motive or hidden thought in my own mind in connexion with what I had just been saying. “OF course, Miss Percy,” said Mr. Doveton, at length breaking silence, “if it is Miss Glentworth’s Wish that I should discontinue my visits—and if you likewise ¥ “ My dear sir,” I exclaimed, “I ean only have But at all Ss WT —— a rr | | —_—_=. 149 One wish upon the subject; and this is that your visits shall be paid to Miss Glentworth as long as you may deem them necessary. But I thought perhaps that this little malady was entirely past 4 But hereI stopped short; for again I observed that Mr. Doveton was contemplating me with a singular expression of countenance. A suspicion struck me that there was something he wished to reveal, or else something in reference to which he desired to question me. I knew not which it was; —but that there was something behind that strange look on his part, I was thorougbly con- vinced. “Surely, Mr. Doveton,” I said, “you do not apprehend any return of these fits on the part of Miss Glentworth P—you do not fear that the seeds of serious indisposition are taking root in her con- stitution ? Or perhaps you think the stage 4 The surgeon gave a dry cough; and again looking me very hard in the face, he said, “Then, in reality, Miss Percy, you have no knowledge of anything which might possibly account for that kind of illness which so abruptly seized upon your friend ?” “JT? any particular knowledge! No, Mr. Doveton! You alarm me! What can you mean P” “JT know not, Miss Percy,” he said, “ whether this conversation ought to be prolooged—whether I might not be violating 45 “Violating what ?” I exclaimed. ‘“ Confidenco do you mean? Has Miss Glentworth told you anything Ab, poor girl! her mother dropped down suddenly and died with frightful abruptness ! Perhaps Mary fears 3 “Miss Percy,” said Mr. Doveton, “ your friend Miss Glentworth has told me nothing! Indeed, last evening, during the intervals between the fits, she would scarcely give utterance to a syllable ; and now, as you have informed me, she declines to re- ceive my visits. To that decision I bow; and I am not offended. But I consider it my duty, after a little reflection, to acquaint you as the young lady’s friend—indeed for her own sake the fact ought to be made known to you for I see that you are indeed ignorant of it “ Good heavens! you alarm me, Mr. Doveton!” Texclaimed. ‘ What do you mean? what secret is this which ought to be made known to me? Keep me not in suspense !” ** Miss Percy,” answered the surgeon, in a slow and deliberate manner, “I hope for her own sake that your friend is privately married de “What!” I faintly ejaculated: for though it was now something more than a suspicion which agitated in my mind, yet did I strive to repel the conviction of the fatal truth. “ Do you not understand me?” asked the sur- geon, with a look and tone which showed that he compassionated me on account of the shock which he felt I must sustain when the last remnant of the veil should be torn away from the trutb. “Your friend Miss Glentworth ought to bear another name——and unlees her happiness is tu be wrecked, that name should be the one which a father can honourably bestow upon the babe which in due time i “ Mr. Doveton! no—impossible!” I murmured, in a faint tone. “You are mistaken!”—and I 3 I a ee es 8 er rs 8 ee oe Ee SS C—O OS 0 S00 a es ee @ 0) 0)(0) Gonmii SS