Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 292: what you’re looking at

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

NSN ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. 279 shawl—stole forth from the room—glided downthe,; personage was none other than Melissa Har: staircase — and passed into the street. I felt} rison. assured that the young man was half demented. At the same time she turned round, and caught It would have been easy for me to summon the | sight of me. I should observe that it was up- waiters, or place myself under the protection of| wards of two months since I had seen her—the the landlady of the establishment: but, as the | last occasion being on the night when she so readers are aware, I had always entertained an| grossly insulted Miss Parks at the theatre,—since unconquerable dislike to render myself the heroine | which date she had disappeared from my view. of a scene that might provoke gossip and scandal. | But here she was suddenly turning up again, at I therefore thought that the best plan would be to| the hotel at Petersfield—elegantly dressed—and go out and walk for an hour, so that the insensate | looking, [ am bound to confess, handsomer poer- young man might have leisure for cool reflection— | haps than I had ever before known her ! in which case he might possibly be brought toa “‘Ah, Miss Percy!” she said; “is it you? I sense of the impropriety of his conduct and take ! thought it was that stupid girl of a chambermaid, his departure, If he should act otherwise, I| who understands nothing, and is awkward at thought to myself, and persist in remaining in my | everything !—leaving the door wide open 4s apartment at the hotel, it would then be time I was passing into my own chamber, without enough to adopt stringent measures on my return, | taking any further notice of Melissa, when she There were other reasons why I was loath to take | came rushing after me, exclaiming, “Let us be extreme steps unless driven to them asa last re- | friends! Surely you must have forgiven me by source, I knew that if he created a disturbance | this time for any ill I have ever done you f—and in the hotel, he would be given into custody; and | you know that I always liked you!” | I wished to save his mother and sister the conse- If you are really sorry, Melissa,” I said, in a quences of such anignominy. It was this consi- | somewhat severe tone, “for any injury you have deration which now prevented me from proceeding | ever done me, I will not say that I cannot forgive. straight to their house, and invoking their aid to | But as for the revival of friendship between us, it shield me against further persecution on the part | is impossible; and I beseech that our interview of Reginald. may end here.” It was all very annoying indeed. I seemed to I entered my bed-chamber ; and was about to be no sooner freed from one disagreeable adven- | close the door, but Melissa followed me. ture, than I was plunged headlong into the midst ‘Is it possible,” she cried, “ that you can bear of another. But still I hoped that the step I was | me so much ill-will: I did not think you were now taking would have the desired effect—and , vindictive !” that when the young man should find he had been | “YT am not vindictive, Melissa,” I said, still outwitted, he would become humiliated and crest-! speaking with a calm severity: ‘‘ but there are fallen, and retreat from the quarters where I had | offences which cannot so easily be forgotten. Pray left him. 'do not let us dispute. I will not in any way in- I walked about the streets of Petersfield for an | terfere with you—I have no wish to do so: pray hour—taking care to avoid the neighbourhood in | do not interfere with me.” which Mrs. Barron’s house was situated. The * Oh; well,’ she cried, tossing her pearl- dusk was closing in at about four o’clock—for it | bedizened head, “if this is the style in which you was the middle of December—when I retraced my | are disposed to treat an old friend, you may as way to the hotel. The weather was fine: I had | well proclaim downright hostility at once. I tell walked rapidly — my spirits were cheered — my | you what it is, Miss Percy! I am not nowina mind was invigorated ; and I resolved to act with | position to put up with any of your airs, as I have the utmost firmness in case there should now arise | done on former occasions. You can play the great a necessity for the adoption of such a course. I | lady, I know full well: and so can I for I ascended the staircase -—-the gas was already | value money no more than you do—ana perhaps lighted upon the landing—and I noticed that the | not half so much!” door of the chamber facing the stairs stood half | I made no answer—but flung upon the depraved open. A light was burning in that room: a lady | young woman a look of pity and contempt, at the was standing in front of a mirror, in the act of | same time keeping my stand near the door asif I gazing upon a necklace of pearls which she held in | desired her to quit my chamber that I might close her hand. She was in evening costume, with a |it after her. But she only seemed to become more low body and short sleeves: she had a beautiful | irate, as she drew her really fine form up to its full head-dress formed of pearls ; and her figure struck | height, exclaiming, “ Ah! then it is to be war be- me as being fine and symmetrical. Her back was |tween us! Well, let it be so!—and see if I don’t towards me; and why the door should be open while | find an opportunity of being revenged on you! I she was thus engaged in her toilet, could not at | only made offers of friendship just to try you. the moment understand. However, she was, You are a prude and I hate you!” dressed, and there was consequently nothing inde- With these words she flaunted out of the room, cent in her appearance—though the fact itself was | banging the door behind her. At the same time either indelicate or thoughtless. On hearing foot-|I heard footsteps ascending the staircase; and I steps at the head of the staircase, she called out in| soon knew that it was the much-abused chamber- a somewhat petulant tone, “Come, chambermaid! | maid who was waiting on Melissa: for the latter do make haste with that band-box !” began giving vent to her ill-humour in a vehement Her words at once revealed to me how it was | tirade against the unfortunate domestic. that she was thus standing there with the door “This is a pretty hotel!” exclaimed Miss Har. open; and her voice was mstantaneously re-|rison. “ First of all 1 am thrust into this wretched cognised by me; for this elegantly apparelled | little chamber, where there is no fire-place! Then I CORNICE OOOKS (C(O)