Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 319: what you’re looking at

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. months of my existence! 306 of the wicked—to save them from the perpetra- tion of greaé crimes—and to inflict upon them condign punishment for their past offences! Yes all these objects were achieved at one and the same moment !” “ All!” murmured Matilda. “ And it was doubtless the inspiration of pro- vidence,” I continued, “ which prompted me to suggest that the accident should be concealed until the morning. I did not tell you, Matilda, that I meant to pass the night in her ladyship’s room: FE did not breathe a syllable to you of the falling-in of the landing. I dismissed you to your own chamber; and you thought that I purposed to remain in mine.” «“ And, Ob, Miss! how far was I from suspect- ing,” moaned the wretched Matilda, “that a chasm was yawning to receive into its depths the two men who were bent upon a midnight deed of erime! Ob, you cannot conceive how fearful was the agitation which seized upon me when those appalling eries pealed through the mansion: for I knew them to be the cries of men—they were not female voices which sent forth those awful yells of agony! I declare to you, Miss Percy, that for all my wickedness I believe I was almost sufficiently punished during the few moments that elapsed from the instant that I rushed forth from my chamber, to that when consciousness abandoned me in the presence of the horrible spectacle that I was destined to behold !” * And do you now assure me, Matilda,” I asked, “that you are completely contrite?” “Would to God, Miss Perey,” she ejaculated, “that I could live over again the last three But tell me—Ah! tell me—and do not deceive me! What is now to be done y. “Do you mean Matilda?” E asked. of worldly matters heaven 7 “Oh, my God! what do you mean, Miss Percy P”’ cried the wretched young woman. “If I should be mistaken—if I have not received a shock which will in a few days or a few hours prostrate me as a cold corpse—if I should 7ive-——Oh! then you mean me to understand that { must be consigned to a gaol and that I must perish on the gallows !” “ Matilda,’ I said, very seriously and very solemnly, “I should be wrong to deceive you in any way. Your wickedness has been great; and there is no extenustion for it. You have not sinned under a sudden impulse; but if has been a deliberate—and I must even say a cold-blooded perseverance in the most diabolical iniquity. Moreover, this wickedness of your’s is now known to many persons o “Yes, yes, Miss Percy! it is all true--all too true!” ejaculated the wretched young woman, clasping her hands in all the wildness of despair. “‘T must be handed over to the grasp of justice— E see that I must !—nothing can save me!” “ Be tranquil, Matilda!—be composed !” I said: “ or else I shall doubt the penitence and contrition which you have been professing. It was my duty to make you comprehend the immensity of your wickedness: but now 1 may be permitted to give you an assurance that you have to deal with those who are mercifully inclined. That you will have in reference to yourself, * You had better not think bend your ideas upon ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTERSS. to answer for your conduct before a public tribunal, there can be no doubt: but that every intercession which mercy dictates shall be made on your behalf, I can safely promise. You will nat lose your life ignominiously ; but you must make up your mind to meet some severe penalty - —-and the resignation with which you bear it, will prove more effectually than words can do your sorrow and contrition for the past.” After having said all I could to settle the young woman’s mind into what I considered to be a suitable state of composure, I issued from the chamber. Tho elderly female domestic to whom [ have already alluded, at once returned thither; and I now sought an opportunity of having a few words of conversation with the medical man. He informed me that Matilda was certainly in a very bad state—that she had re- ceived a fearful shock, and that she might sink under it—unless on the other hand she should live on asa wretched maniac. He said that he should see her again before he left the house, and that he meant to charge the woman who was now with her not to lose sight of her for a single moment. . TI now returned to the boudoir. I found that Lady Kelvedon was considerably tranquillized in ~ mind, put that she had been expressing her wish that I should return to her. I desired the Countess of Belgrave and Aline to withdraw to their respective chambers: I likewise.requested Lord Kelvedon himself to leave me alone with his wife; and I begged Agatha to seek her couch again in the dressing-room. When alone with Lady Kelvedon, I gradually broke to her all those details in connexion with her own ease whereof she had hitherto remained in ignorance; for I thought it better that she should know everything at once, than labour under any suspense. that I had adopted the right course; for though she was deeply, deeply affected, yet the vent which her feelings found in tears seemed fo do her good. She flung her arms round my neck—she wept upon my bosom—and [I breathed everything I could think of that was cheering and consola- tory in her ears. At length we retired to rest again; for if was now past two o’clock in the morning, and the household had become quiet once more—though I question whether many eyes were closed in slumber after the horrible incidents which characterized that night of tremendous me- mories ! There is @ point upon which I should here touch for a moment, in case the reader should not have comprehended one special portion of the explanation of past events. I allude to that par- ticular evening when I overheard what took place in the garden. It was xow evident enough that the first couple who were walking about there while I remained concealed amongst the ever- greens, were Robert Burton and Matilda—though I had been strongly impressed at the time that it was Agatha’s voice of which I had occasionally caught a whispering murmur. The man had men- tioned the name of Agatha; but he was only speaking of her, and not to her, In short, I was altogether deceived. Then the second couple whom [ had heard walking in the garden, were really Agatha and Richard Brownlow. As for the note, it had after all been taken from the vase by found > (E@) EORNICLOOOLK ee ee ee —— oY