Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 177: what you’re looking at

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

th hi wo meme mt ee ee we ew ee — 1@4 ELLEN PEECY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, a ea a ness of the forehead—-but seemed as open, frank, “ Ah! beneath contempt—are they ?” ejaculated and candid as if the brow were of the loftiest Melissa, now unable to restrain her rage. “Then dimensions. I tell you what, M. Duprez,—you may report me She was tall and possessed of a fine figure; to the manager if you like, and get me my dis- indeed I have already said that in this respect she missal! The sooner the better! I won’t dance reminded me of my friend Juliet-—and the news- | any longer in company with Miss Churchill! She papers had recorded a similar sentiment. If she is constantly putting me out—she usurps my place danced with exceeding grace and lightness, there _—she thrusts herself forward as if to receive all was an equal amount of elegance in her walk | the applause of the audience—in a word, she isa when clad in plain clothes; and if there were conceited minx!” something which was no doubt deemed by the Here M. Duprez stamped his foot impatiently, male sex to be fascinating and ravishing in her and then began scraping away vehemently at his appearance when on the stage, there was assuredly fiddle, or rather kit. The storm seemed to have a still more interesting and prepossessing air about passed over—at least Melissa now remained silent; her when viewed in her own plain, modest, but but I noticed with feelings of mingled indignation neat raiment. -and sorrow that Angeline Churchill looked very I was now determined to speak to Angeline much distressed at the treatment which she had Churchill. She did not appear to be altogether | sustained. And now there came a part in the happy; and I thought that possibly she might be new ballet which was being rehearsed, where Ange- friendless in the great metropolis. Besides, the line had to go forward and dance alone for some circumstances attending her first introduction to minutes. This spectacle was more than Melissa Mr. Richards, proved that she must have been Harrison could endure; and with a sudden ejacu- acquainted with no small amount of misfortune. lation which had a sort of screaming accent in it, Perhaps she required a friend?—perhaps even she cried, “It is my place you are taking—and though now rescued from the iron grasp of poverty, you shall not supplant me!” she nevertheless might have other sorrows which “Silence, Miss Harrison!” ejaculated M. could be consoled with the sympathy of friendship? Duprez. These were the thoughts that passed through my| “Not for an old fool like you!” she vociferated. brain: and at all events I determined to speak to “Of course there is something between you and her. Miss Churchill, with all her modest looks! The But while I was thus contemplating the pro- | stillest water runs the deepest! I don’t like your ceedings of the ballet-dancers, my looks being modest people! Prudery is a mask 5 chiefly riveted upon Angeline, I beheld Melissa Here she was interrupted by cries of “ Shame!” Harrison emerge from one of the opposite “wings’’ from the lips of several of the other dancing-girls ; and take her place amongst the ¢roupe. The | while M. Duprez had gone off in arage to seek for instant her eyes caught miae, they were averted; | Mr. Richards. and I saw that the colour deepened upon hercoun-| “Who cries Shame?” ejaculated Melissa, “TI tenance. She had never once attempted to speak | say it is all true!’’ she added, fiercely, and assum- to me—she had never dared even to approach me, | ing a sudden air of defiance. “Let Churchill since we had both happened to return at about deny it if she can! I'll take my oath any day the same time to the stage. that she is the mistress of that old French rascal I should observe that Melissa was exceedingly , Duprez !” jealous of Angeline, by whom she was assuredly | At this juncture I was hastening forward in the equalled if not eclipsed. Some little gossip in respect | hope of being enabled to wield my own authority to this feeling on Miss Harrison’s part had reached | and rescue poor Angeline Churchill from the abuse my ears; and now as I stood contemplating the | and invectives which Melissa was throwing forth, two, I saw enough to convince me that the rumour | —when at that moment Angeline exclaimed, “ It was perfectly correct. When in the presence of | is false, Miss Harrison!—it is false! It isa vile the audience, Melissa would not of course have | malignant calumny <i dared to display her irritable feelings: but now Bu: here Angeline suddenly stopped short—her that it was merely a rehearsal, she was not com- | face became deadly pale—I saw her stagger as if pelled to put any such restraint upon herself—nor | she were about to faint—I sprang forward, and did even the shame which she felt in my presence | caught her inmy arms. At that same instant induce her to study the proprieties of demeanour. | consciousness abandoned her; and it was an inani- “That is not your place, Miss Churchill!” ex- | mate form that I was sustaining. claimed Melissa angrily. “For shame of you, Melissa! It is shameful! “T beg your pardon, Miss Harrison,” answered | it is infamous!” ejaculated the surrounding ballet- Angeline, with a lady-like calmness and self-pos- | girls. “ Miss Churchill gave you no offence ‘” session: “1 believe that this is my place—and if “Why does she put herself forward to supplant we appeai to M. Duprez . me?” demanded Melissa, trembling with rage. The ballet-master at once settled the question “Help me to bear Miss Churchill to my own by declaring that Miss Churchill was perfectly | dressing-room,” I said. “Tae conduct she has correct. experienced is most abominable!” “Oh, of course!” ejaculated Melissa, with a As I thus spoke, I bent a withering glance upon contemptuous toss of the head; “if Miss Churchill | Melissa. She seemed for an instant as if she were were wrong, M. Duprez would swear that she was | inclined to burl back defiance at me, and even burst right!” forth in some abusive attack against myself; but “Silence, Miss Harrison!” ejaculated the ballet- | doubtless a second thought made her reflect it master; “your words would be an jnsult, were | would be more prudent for her to hold her tongue they not beneath contempt!” —for I could bave told a tale in reference toa EORMICLOOOLS —" —_—_— —_— re rs ee ee ee + ee (EO)