Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 312: what you’re looking at

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

ee en 8 a room; but all continued perfectly still. Yet I was resolved to leave nothing to mere sur- mise or conjecture: I therefore opened that door of communication, but-in so noiseless a mauner that in this respect it was the same as if I had not opened it at all. I peeped in— the light was extinguished there: but a taper was burning in the chamber which I occupied with Hermione; and by its beams I could discern that Agatha was fast asleep—or at least she was lying in her couch with her eyes shut, and with the ap- pearance of one who slumbered profoundly. I glanced at the window: the draperies were closed almost completely over it; but through the slight opening that there was in the middle, I could see that the window itself was shut and that the fastening was secure. Closing the door as noise- lessly as I had opened it, I crept back to my place by Hermione’s side. I did not immediately endeavour to compose myself to sleep again: I lay thinking and listen. ing. If any one had been there to put the question to me whether I now believed that I had heard a window opening, I should have been inclined to answer at once in the negative; but still there was In my soul a lurking idea—a species of vague apprehension, to the effect that it was not alto- gether an illusion on my part. Not more than five minutes had elapsed after I had thus returned to bed—the most solemn silence again appeared to be prevailing throughout the mansion—when all in a moment, suddenly as the trumpet of doom may be supposed to send forth its pealing blast when the great final day shall come, that stillness was fearfully, horribly broken in upon! Not more terribly does the appalling ery of “ Fire!” come upon the ears of those who are startled up from their slumber,—not more hideous could the yell of “Murder!” be, when all in a moment pealing through the silence of night,—than was the manner in which the stillness of Kelvedon Hall was now broken! First one tremendous ejacula- tion of mortal terror!—then another! the latter following as closely upon the former as two pul- sations of the heart, or two strokes of a bell that is being rung violently! Thus they smote upon the ear! Thus they rang horribly through the mansion ! —and they were accompanied by the sounds of two heavy bodies falling one after the other just as quickly as the two cries that indicated the mortal pain of some horrible catastrophe! I started up all shuddering and quivering : Lady Kelvedon sprang up in a similar manner by my side: then there was instantaneously the sound of Agatha leaping from her own bed in the next foom, “Good God!” cried Lady Kelvedon; “is it a horrible dream P” and she sank back gasping with affright and terror, on her pillow. “ For heaven’s sake compose yourself !’’ I said: “but it is no dream !”—and in the twinkling of an eye I sprang out of bed. At the same instant there was a violent knock- ing at the door leading into the dressing-room, and which door I had locked after peepingin upon Agatha. “Open, open! for God’s sake !” cried that young woman’s voice. “Something terrible has occurred close by!” | I opened the door with the utmost despatch ; 1)? . ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, 299 and as the light streamed upon Agatha’s counte- nance, the beams showed that it was as pale as that of a corpse. “Good God! Miss Percy!” she’ murmured, clasping her hands; “ what canitbe? Tho sounds came from there!’—and she pointed in the direc. tion of the bath-room, or rather of the private staircase which lay beyond—for I instantaneously comprehended her meaning. I threw my morning-wrappper over my shoul- ders—caught up a light—and rushed towards the bath-room. Nothing unusual was there to bo seen; and the window was closed ; but it was with an awful shuddering throughout my entire form, and with the horrible presentiment of being about to make some terrific discovery, that I opened the opposite door of that bath-room—the door which now overhung the chasm where a landing once had been! At the same instant a strong gust of wind blew in upon me, nearly extinguishing the light which I carried; but I instantaneously shielded it with my hand. Agatha was behind me in her night-dress: but I had not time at the moment to think of her, nor to pause to reflect how she might possibly be connected with all tho horrible things that were progressing at Kelvedon Hall. And now I stood upon the threshold of that doorway which overlooked the chasm: the window was open—the curtains were blowing with the strong current of air. Yes—there I stood above the wreck of the fallen floor! I plunged my eyes down into the abyss; dark objects lay there—~ human shapes—yes, unmistakable forms of men— but motionless as if dead! No, they were not dead!—for moans of intense agony were heard; and I ejaculated, “There is life in those wretches ! and whoever’ they are, they must receive prompt ministration !” I was about to step forward upon the staircase, so as fo descend and see what could be done for the miserable beings lying at the bcttom—when Agatha caught me by the arm, exclaiming, “ For God’s sake, Miss Percy, take care what you do! Those steps will not bear you! all their support is gone !” I instantaneously recognised the truth of what Agatha said. I felt at the moment that she had actually and positively saved my life; and it struck me as singular indeed that I should owe my life to her who I should have thought would perhaps have been only too glad to take it or to see it sacrificed. “Go and unlock the outer door, Agatha,” I said ; “for there is aloud knocking at it—and it is doubtless his lordship who is alarmed !” Agatha at once retired; and I stooped as far over the chasm as in safety I dared—to discern, if possible, who were the men that were lying be- low. But as it was only a taper which I had in my hand, I could not throw the light in sucha way—or rather I should observe, with sufficient power to obtain a view of the countenances of the individuals at the bottom. They were two men; and they seemed to be very coarsely dressed, so that I could not form the slightest conjecture who they were. It was only for a moment that I thus lin- gered over the abyss; and then I sped back into the bed-chamber. Lady Kelyedon had fainted: the Countess of Gomichdoo (EO)