Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 21: what you’re looking at

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| | | | ee 8 ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. joined, with a sickening sensation at the heart, * I did hear those dreadful cries—and your father also heard them in his own chamber !” “Oh! it was a dreadful, dreadful thing !” cried Juliet, joining her hands together in anguish, — “all in the deep darkness of our chamber—the lamp extinguished—the curtains closely drawn over the windows, so that not the faintest glim- mering of the beautiful clear moonlight could penetrate !—and I to be suddenly startled up from my slumber! But God knows I do not say this to complain—I would do anything for poor Fre- derick———” “ My sweet friend,” I said, unable to restrain my tears, “it is indeed a trying time for you; and deeply, deeply do I sympathise with you!” Juliet threw herself into my arms; and she clung to me, weeping and sobbing, for some minutes. from my embrace, she said in a low deep voice, and with a look which proved that she dreaded to put the question, “ What did my father think, Ellen, of those dreadful cries?” “He said but very little on the subject,” I answered: “ but the observation which he did make was to the effect that he was more than ever con- vinced of the propriety of consulting Mr. Singleton.” Mr. Norman now returned to the breakfast- parlour: Juliet quickly composed her looks; and her father began to converse on different topics, evidently with the considerate design of soothing the painfulness of his daughter’s suspense during the interview that was taking place in the apart- ment overhead. This interview lasted altogether for upwards of half-an-hour; and then we heard the drawing-room bell ring as a signal that the surgeon was taking his leave of his patient. Mr. Norman issued from the:parlour, met Mr. Single- ton in the hall, and led him into the dining-room. opposite. Almost immediately afterwards Lord Frederick descended the stairs, and joined Juliet and myself in the breakfast-parlour. I can scarcely describe the look that he wore. He was smiling with an air of cheerfulness: but it seemed as if this gaiety were only a gloss or varnish over a haggard anguished expression which the recent trial of his feelings had left behind. “ Well,” he said, in a light tone, “I knew it was all useless, and that it would end in com- paratively nothing !” “Then there is naught serious?” exclaimed Juliet joyously, as she took her husband’s hand and pressed it between both her own. “SeriousP —no, my dear girl!” answered Frederick. ‘I have been shaken by the fall from the horse—Singleton recommends repose and rest —and he is going to send me some medicine— opiates, sedatives, or something of that kind. Then as for my restlessness at night,” continued Ravenscliffe, his countenance suddenly changing as he thus alluded to the topic—and he glanced with uneasy furtiveness at Juliet, then at me,— “it is only a repetition in my dreams of the dreadful accident but you know what I mean, and there is enough upon the subject! I am now going to lie down on the sofa in the drawing-room. Get me some books, Juliet.” “I will come and sit by you, Frederick,’’ she responded: “I will get you the books and join you immediately.” At length, slowly disengaging herself | With these words she issued from the room: and Lord Frederick, hastily accosting me, whis- pered in a low rapid tone, “ My secret is still safe! <A thousand, thousand thanks, Miss Percy! I see that you have not let fall a syllable that might betray it! Singleton suspects nothing. He was keen—searching—minute in all his ques- tions; and, Oh, my God! it seemed as if he were probing a wound that was already hideously painful! Nevertheless, I satisfied him; and he will satisfy Mr. Norman likewise. Heaven only knows how it must all end at last !—but for the present [am as happy as the doomed criminal who has obtained a respite.” Lord Frederick quitted the breakfast parlour, and ascended to the drawing room,—whither he was immediately followed by Juliet, who had been to procure some books from the library. In a few minutes the door of the dining-room opened, and I went out into the hall to speak to Mr. Single- ton. ‘How do you do, Miss Percy ?” he exclaimed, taking my hand. ‘Once more at River House? I am delighted to see you!” We exchanged a few observations on indifferent topics; and just as Mr. Singleton was taking his leave, he hastily whispered, “Try and favour me with a call in the course of the day. - Come be- tween one and two if possible: I wish to speak to you.” He significantly placed his finger upon his lips, and hastened away. Mr. Norman had re-entered the breakfast-parlour, where I now joined him, His countenance wore a somewhat lighter expres- sion than before his interview with the surgeon; and I therefore thought that Lord Frederick was correct in his idea that Mr. Singleton would satisfy the mind of Juliet’s father. “You are anxious to know, Ellen, what has taken place,” said Mr. Norman ; “and I will tell you exactly. Mr. Singleton represented to Lord Frederick that he ought to deal candidly with him, and not trifle with his health on account of any silly punctilio or prejudice which he might enter- tain. Lord Frederick mentioned certain symptoms which he felt; and Mr. Singleton heard enough to convince him that Frederick had been very much shaken by the fall from the horse. But relative to the accident which occurred in London, Fre- derick positively refused to suffer Mr. Singleton to see the wound. He said that it was almost com. pletely healed, but that the scar was horrible, and nothing should induce him to remove the bandage. He mentioned circumstances which convinced Mr, Singleton that when in London he had positively obtained advice from an eminent physician : indeed he displayed the prescription for certain soothing medicines which he had received from that medical practitioner. And now I come, Ellen,” continued Mr. Norman, “to Mr. Singleton’s own opinion upon the case. He says that there can be no doubt Lord Frederick must have sustained when in London some accident which produced a very great shock to the whole nervous system, and that this influence has since been aggravated by the fall from the horse. It is by no means unnatural nor strange that Frederick should have horrible dreams, or that he should start up in the midst of them and give vent to wild and mourntul cries ; for these results are consistent with the nervous 0)(0\(0) =) SS (C(O)