Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 298: what you’re looking at

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ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN AOTRESS, diately underneath it; and in a few moments the foot of Reginald Barron touched the sill of that lower window. Then the rope was instantaneously drawn up: Reginald kissed his hand, the gaslight again glancing upon his countenance;—and dart- ing along the street, he was in a few moments hidden from my view. All this I beheld, with the certainty that I my- self was not perceived by Reginald Barron while thus peeping from the side of the bow-window. The street continued perfectly quiet; no early- riser—no neighbour—no police official had wit- nessed the proceeding: or at least no notice was taken of it, and no disturbance was made. I sat down upon the side of the couch, sick at heart— shocked and disgusted at the denowement ef this episode of depravity. But suddenly I was startled as my thoughts colleeted themselves and I began putting all circumstances together. Reginald Barron must have been hidden in my chamber at the time when I was there—when I was undress- ing—when I entered the bed, to find myself clasped in Melissa’s arms—when I stood in my night- gear by the side of that bed—when I was ren- dered almost infuriate by Melissa’s vile insinuations —and finally when I burst forth from that cham- ber to seek refuge in the one where I now was, Ah! and there was no longer the slightest diffi- culty in comprehending all Melissa’s allusions— all the insinuations she had thrown out, even to those very parting werds which she hada flung after me, as it were, when I was gliding from the room! It was altogether a series of incidents which I could scarcely bear to look upon, and which I could not review otherwise than with the keenest sense of loathing and disgust. While I was giving way to my reflections, I heard the window in the adjoining room closing as gently as a few minutes previously I had heard it open; and I was just asking myself what course I should now pursue, when there was a gentle tap at the door of the chamber. I felt assured it must be Melissa. I hesitated to pay any heed to the summons—for I felt that the presence of the profligate creature would be loath- some to me; and after the discovery I had just made i could no ionger apprehend that my cha. racter was inher power. But on a second thought I determined to see what notion she still enter- tained, or affected to entertain on this head: for it was important for me to acquire the certainty that she had not the slightest ground for aspersing my good name, I therefore opened the door, and Melissa made her appearance. She had.thrown on some of her clothing, and carried the rest over her arm ; for it appeared that she had taken her raiment with her when gliding into my chamber on the preceding evening, “ Now,” she hastily whispered, “you can go and resume possession of your own apartment.” I was just on the point of expressing a loathing and repugnance against the idea of again setting foot in a room which had been the scene of such profligacy, whenit struck me that if it were discovered in the hotel that we had changed cham- bers, it would appear exceedingly singular. I there- fore snatched up my own apparel: but ere moving to quit the chamber, I said, “ Your conduct has been infamous, Melissa !—infamous to a degree! I eee eee 285 know more than perbaps you imagine I know why the window in the adjoining room opencd just now—and I saw who descended into the street !” Melissa laughed, and said, “It is one of the raciest adventures I ever met with in all my life! On my soul, when I saw the young fellow glide into your chamber last evening—and you yourself almost immediately afterwards peep forth from your sitting-room—what on earth could I think but that you were secreting a lever P” “And now,” I said, my heart leaping with joy as I perceived that Melissa no lenger entertained an opinion that was prejudicial to me,—“ and now you find how you have wronged me ?” | “Why, of course,” interjected Melissa, who spoke with a certain degree of hardihood, as if she were now quite brazen and full of effrontery in pursuing her profligate career,—“ why, of course, it would be ridiculous for me to tell you that I any longer suppose yuu were secreting a lover, since it seems you know that he has passed the night with me, and that therefore explanations have taken place between us. He is wonderfully sentimental, that young man !—and I am really surprised you were not moved by all he said to you yesterday: for he told me everything—he was very candid i “And did he tell you,’ I demanded, “how it was that he came to seek my chamber ?” “Yes. I really can scarcely help laughing my- self into fits at the whole affair! It is most supremely ridiculous, and therefore highly divert- ing! I obtained a paramour when little expecting one; and he was forced to content himself with me while craving after you. The fact is, he meant to see you once again last night, to wpbraid or en- treat you—to threaten or to pray—I’m sure I don’t know which. However, he called at the hotel at about ten o’clock. He stole up to your sitting-room—he saw that you were asleep in your chair—he was advancing to awaken you—per- haps with a kiss—who knows, Ellen?—when a thought struck him. I don’t know what non- sense he talked to me about loving and hating you at the same time—resolving to possess you that his passion might be appeased and at the same time that his vengeance might be sated a “Well, leave that subject alone, Molissa—and tell me quick what happened,” I exclaimed. “ Ab! I almost forgot that we are both standing here shivering in the celd; but I can’t help dwell- ing on the details of an adventure which is so exquisitely diverting. Well then, an idea struck him, I was saying he knew which your bed. chamber was: he had seen you enter it in the day- time when you gave him the slip—you know—for he told me all about it—and bitterly vindictive he was! Well, he knew which was your chamber; and he glided into it. He little thought that L had heard footsteps stealing across the landing, and that I was therefore on the watch. He stole into your chamber—he concealed himself in that large wardrobe which you might have observed in the recess. Ah, by the bye, there’s one thing, Ellen, I may tell you, which may perhaps be gra- tifying to your prudish modesty; and this is that the young fellow could not possibly catch the slightest glimpse of you while you were undress- ing yourself, or during any subsequent part of the JOO (C(O) S (E(0)