Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 249: what you’re looking at

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

236 “Yes—but I have no energy, Ellen!” inter- rupted Lady Kelveden, “ t is not that I have lost the use of my limbs. No! I have still a cer- tain degree of strength left. See !”’—and rising from the easy chair, she walked across the boudoir : but on returning to her seat, she threw herself into it with a certain visible air of languor, almost bordering upon exhaustion. “The truth is, I have no energy—no spirit “And your handmaidens,” I said,—‘ are they attentive? Do youknow them well a “Oh, yes,” she responded: “ they are the same whom you saw in London. They have been with me ever since my marriage, nearly two years ago. But why do you put such a question ?” “ No matter,” I rejoined. “I have already said that it is something more than mere casual con- versation ae “Yes—Ellen!” ejaculated Hermione, as if a light were dawning in unto her mind: “you have indeed a special motive! Perhaps you think that I am being unfairly tampered with P” “Oh, Lady Kelvedon !” I cried; “is it possible that such an idea has ever entered into your thoughts P” “ Frankly speaking,” returned Hermione, “the idea Aas on two or three occasions floated in my brain But it is a horrible notion, and one which I ought not to mention, inasmuch as if im- plies an accusation of a terrific nature against some or all of those persons by whom I am sur- rounded.” “ Nevertheless, tell me what you think,” I said. ‘We are speaking within four walls—no one can overhear us—and whatsoever you communicate is a secret between ourselves.” “ On condition that you regard it in this light,” proceeded her ladyship, “ I must not hesitate to unbosom myself freely to you. When I have con- templated this strange malady of mine I confess that the idea has stolen into my brain that per- haps—— But no! I cannot tell you!” ‘‘ Let me interpret your thoughts for you,” I said, taking her hand and looking earnestly in her countenance. ‘ You conceive it possible—we will not say probable—but you conceive it just possible that— that—poison « “ Ah! you have interpreted my idea!” said Hermione, with a shudder. “Butno! I discard it! It is only in my most morbid moments 5 “ Let us entertain the idea for an instant,” I said. “Think, my dear Lady Kelvedon !—re- flect! Is there a soul amongst all the domestics by whom you are surrounded, on whom your sus- picions could for a single instant alight ?” : “Not one! she emphatically exclaimed. ‘ Ah! now I comprehend wherefore you just now asked me whether my husband took his meals with me—whether my handmaidens were kind and trusty? Ah, then, the same idea must have struck you, Ellen! But1 beseech you to banish it; for I again tell you that it is an utter impos- sibility !” “ Well, we will not talk any longer upon the subject,” I said. “But now tell me, my dear Lady Kelvedon, why did you wish to see me? You have friends far more intimate—you have relations—you have parents and sisters x “ Yes—but I have no friend,” she fervently nterjected, “whom I esteem more highly than ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOTRS OF AN ACTRESS, you! Think you that I can ever forget, my dear Ellen, how kindly you behaved to Aline when she was poor—dependent—but honourably and bravely seeking a means of independence,—when in com- pliance with my wish you took her by the hand— you instructed her without fee or reward—you enabled her to make a brilliant debut—you gave her the opportunity of earning a livelihood when she fancied that she needed it? Or think you that I can forget your generous conduct to Major Gower, in surrendering up so large a portion of the wealth the whole of which you might have claimed P Yes !—that conduct was noble indeed ; for it enabled him to conduct Aline to the altar ; —and you know how deeply interested I have always been in Aline. Therefore,” continued Lady Kelvedon, “ you cannot wonder that I should have esteemed and valued you as an excel- lent friend, short though our acquaintance were, and little as we had seen of each other. But be- yond all these feelings,” she went on to say, now speaking with some little degree of hesitation, “I will frankly confess that there was an idea float- ing in wy mind, when I more than once expressed the fervid wish to see you ‘ ** And that idea ?” I asked, with some degree of suspense. * Ah, Ellen,’ responded her ladyship, “ I thought that perhaps the French chemist of whom you once spoke to me, and who was so skilful in com- pounding certain sovereign remedies ey “Ah! you allude to the pink lozenges?” I ejaculated. “ By the bye,” I asked, as if quite carelessly, but with a vivid hope springing up in my heart, “do you happen to have any of them left P” “ Not one,” she replied: “I used them all. Ah! and now I bethink me,” she continued, as that evanescent hope died within me, “I was more than ever wrong to inquire just now if they could possibly be deleterious; for his lordship par- took of the same beverage in which they were mixed—it was always in our coffee—and he has in no way suffered. But I was about to observe, Ellen, that perhaps the French chemist who proved himself so skilful in one respect, might possibly be acquainted with some sovereign elixir —some remedy unknown to the generality of the medical profession, which would reach my case P It is this idea that has floated through my mind, and has conjured up your name more than once to my lips: but I dared give no explanations to his lordship, for I never forgot that I had pledged myself to an inviolable secrecy a “And since you have proved thus mindful of your promise, my dear Lady Kelvedon,” I inter- rupted her, “I will give you a proof that such good faith may not be altogether without its re- ward. Listen to me! It was not a French chemist who compounded the lozenges which | presented to you some months ago. Pardon the litle deception: but I did not then deem it ad- visable to tell you a tale of mere gipsy charms and spells a “Oh! is it possible thaf you know any one, Ellen,” exclaimed Hermione, “ who is skilled in any art which could by a possibility reach my case? Iam so young to die !”—and the poor creature shuddered convulsively. “No! you shall not die yet,” I exclaimed, “ ii EGomicboo (C