Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 208: what you’re looking at

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

—_ 2 EE EEE nn mmm nampa a ne ee ee ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. “ Oh, to be sure !” exclaimed the Duke; “ and of course I am very much obliged to her lady- ship.” Herbert Dalrymple bit his lip with vexation ; for he saw that his father’s conduct was super- viliously rude and flippantly impertinent. But Juliet, taking no farther notice of the Duke, began to issue orders for the ensurance of the best and kindest treatment in respect to the Duchess. Her Grace was moved up to the principal chamber ; and Mr. Singleton then desired that she should be at once undressed and got to bed. I was about to remain with Juliet and the maids, in order to render my assistance, when Mr. Singleton hastily whispered in my ear, “I wish to say a few words to you, Miss Percy.” I accordingly accompanied him from the cham- ber. The Duke of Ardleigh and the Marquis of Dalrymple were shown to the drawing-room: I repaired with Mr. Singleton to another apart- ment. “ And so that is the Duke of Ardleigh!” he said, with a certain degree of abruptness the mo- ment we were alone together. “ Yes,” I replied ; “and I saw how you recog- nised him. You started te “Yes, yes,” interiected Singleton; “I did in- deed start!—and no wonder! for it was not 80 much on account of the abrupt discovery that the person whom I had supposed on the nicht of the poor Jady’s death to be Mr. Glentworth, is none other than the Duke of Ardleigh,—but it was because @ most singular secret came to my know- ledge only yesterday; and I should have this very day called upon Lady Frederick to inquire if she knew where I could communicate with Miss Glent- worth Hi “Indeed ?” I ejaculated. “Did you not know that Miss Glentworth was living with me?” “T knew that sho was some time ago,” responded Mr. Singleton; “ but I was not sure whether cir- Cumstarces might not have altered ad “T will tell youa secret, Mr. Singleton,” I said ; “because I fancy from the turn the conversation has taken, you must know or at least suspect some- thing—for immediately after mentioning the name of the Duke of Ardleigh, you began speaking of Mary Glentworth.” ** Aye, to be sure!” ejaculated the surgeon : “and no wonder! for the intelligence I obtained yesterday Ah! but first of all tell me what is this secret which you were just going to re- veal ?” “Simply that Mary Glentworth is at this mo- ment at River House,” I responded. “Ah!” ejaculated Mr. Singleton; “ this is strange !—-perbaps in some sense fortunate but all that is just as i¢ may be——” “You are speaking in enigmas,’ I said. “ But perhaps you do not know exactly what I know Xn : “Or perheps I know a little more,” interjected the surgeon, with a good-tempered dryness. “ You imagine that Mary Glentworth m “Hush!” I said, as a sudden thought struck me, ‘“ Whatever I may know of Mary Glent- worth, the secret is not my own; and without her consent I dare not touch upon the subject.” “T both admire and approve of your discretion, my dear Miss Percy,” said Mr. Singleton. “ Per- EE 195 haps it would be better that I should explain my- self in the first instance thoroughly to you. I will tell you all that L know in reference to Mary Glentworth——” At this moment we became aware that the door was open, and Juliet’s lady’s-maid was entering to announce that everything was ready in the invalid chamber for the presence of Mr. Singleton. At the same instant I caught sight of the young Marquis of Dalrymple crossing the landing; and I asked myself, “ Was the door opened at so inopportune a moment as to allow his ears to catch what Mr. Singleton was saying to me? JI hope not!—for it is better that nothing should transpire to excite a fresh interest in the mind of Herbert Dalrymple with respect to his half-sister,” We will meet again presently,” hastily whis- pered Mr. Singleton to me, “And now,” he added aloud, “ let us go together to the invalid’s chamber.” : CHAPTER XCVIII. THE OLD GARDENER’S DISCOVERY. THE Marquis of Dalrymple had traversed the landing without noticing me and Mr. Singleton— or at least without appearing to observe that we were at the same time issuing from an apartment adjacent to the drawing-room which he had just left; for he did not turn round, but kept straight on his way towards the chamber to’ which his mother had been conveyed. The Duke had reached it before him; and this I thought rather singular, for I fancied that Herbert’s naturally affectionate and generous disposition would have led him in all possible haste to the couch of his invalid mother; so that <= again said to myself, “Ts it possible that he could have tarried on the landing to overhear anything that was passing betwixt Mr. Singleton and me P” I looked furtively at the young Marquis as this thought crossed my mind on entering the in- valid chamber; and I could discern an expression of uneasiness and anxiety upon his countenance, which was also very pale. But there were no evidences to corroborate the misgiving which was floating in my mind; for the condition of Her- bert’s mother was sufficient to account for the mental distress he might be experiencing. The Duchess still lay in a state of unconscious- ness: she had not even so much as groaned or moaned since she had been conveyed up-stairs to that chamber. Mr. Singleton desired every one to leave the room with the exception of Juliet and myself; and his wish was of course complied with. I need not linger upon this portion of my narra- tive; suffice it to say that Mr. Singleton carefully eXamined the injury sustained by the Duchess of Ardleigh, and the result was such as to corroborate the opinion he had formed in the first instance— namely, that though the injuries were serious, they need not necessarily prove fatal; and that it was not merely possible, but even probable that there would be an eventual recovery. “And now, Miss Percy,” he said, “you your- self may go and report this opinion of mine to the Gboo COU (E©)