Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 32: what you’re looking at

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ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. — CHAPTER LXXI. THE DECISION. I awoxe ata very early hour in the morning; and then I perceived that Juliet was sleeping. I noiselessly performed my toilet in the adjoining dressing-room : Juliet still slumbered ;—and issuing from my chamber, I descended the stairs. I pro- ceeded towards the breakfast-parlour: but on reaching the door, I caught the sounds of voices speaking inside the room; and I immediately retreated, for I now knew Mr, Norman and his son-in-law were in conference together. I went out into the garden to woo the refreshing breeze to my brows which were feverishly throbbing; and in a few minutes I was joined by Mr. Norman, His face was pale: the expression of his couns tenance was that of mingled resoluteness and grief. I felt assured that some decision bad been arrived at; and with no small degree of suspense did I await the explanation. “ During the past night, Ellen,” he said, “ every- thing was at length most fearfully cleared up to my knowledge; and the lips of that wretched young nobleman have just revealed the fullest de- tails of the horrible narrative, To you i find it was a!l along known: but to poor Juliet it was a mystery until the day before yesterday. Ido not blame you, Ellen, for having kept the dreadful secret: you were orly obeying the dictates of your humane and generous heart. Ah! and now tool comprehend wherefore the deceased Mr. Gower should have thought it right to make you an atone- ment for the pain and horror of the ordeal through which asa witness he dragged you. Ellen!” added Mr. Norman, stopping short in the midst of the gravel-walk of the garden, and gazing fixedly upon my countenance, “I scarcely believe that there is a wretch upon the face of the earth the sum of whose iniquities is greater than that of the man who has become my son-in-law! I thank God that he took my poor wife away from me before all these horrors transpired !” There was a pause, during which we slowly con- tinued our way along the path; and at length Mr. Norman again spoke. “You will not be astonished to learn,” he re- sumed; “that I have made up my mind to an im- mediate and eternal separation between Lord Frederick and Juliet. It is impossible that I can suffer my daughter to live for another day beneath the same roof with a man who bears the indelible mark of a felon upon his brow! It is true that eee = TS 19 2 ts OF Se os ee —— errr Ce 8 een speak: and it is in this light,” added Mr. Norman, | “that I appeal to you.” “But Juliet must be consulted,” I said, endea- vouring to evade the necessity of giving any direct reply; “and if she as well as her husband be agreeable “ Frederick ig now with Juliet,” answered Mr. Norman ; “and it is scarcely possible to doubt what her decision will be. I have suggested certain precautions to prevent a scandal in the house or in the neighbourhood; and thus Lord Frederick will presently intimate to the servants that pressiag business suddenly calls him upon the Continent. It is my intention to remain here with my daughter; acd nothing therefore need prevent you, my dear Ellen, from fulfilling your original intention of re- turning to London to-day.” After a little more conversation we re-entered the house; and I ascended the staircase to seek Juliet. On the first landing I met Lord Frede- rick: his face was exceedingly pale—he was dressed as if for a journey—he had on his haf, and it was drawn so far down over his forchead as to conceal the black band. “ Farewell, Miss Percy,” he said, in a low, hur- ried, and excited tone: “ you will never see me again.” He did not offer me his hand, nor did he stop for any answer that I might have made: but he sped down the stairs and soon afterwards quitted the house. I ascended to my chamber—but Juliet was not there: I proceeded to her own room, where I found her. She was enveloped in a morn- ing wrapper—bher long hair was floating all dis- hevelled over her shoulders and down her back: she was seated upon a chair, evidently absorbed in profound and painful reflections, But she was not weeping: there was not a tear upon her cheeks:—her’s was not now the affliction which could find a vent by such means. She did not im- mediately perceive me as I entered the room; and her aspect was such that I felt a kind of solemn awe which prevented me from intruding with speech on her profound and painful reverie. At length she started slightly; and then taking my hand, she said in a low half-stifling voice, “It is allover now, Ellen—the last scene of the drama is played out! Frederick and I”—here she gasped, and she repeated the words, “ Frederick and I have bidden each other an eternal farewell!” In silence I embraced her; and there was a long pause ere she again spoke. “TJ fee], Ellen,” she at last said, “that Iam in some sense righteously punished for the ambition which I entertained. My mirror told me that I was beautiful; and, as you well know, I longed to the mark was not branded by the law itself: but it | form a brilliant matrimonial alliance and obtain a is impossible to blind one’s eyes to the fact that | high social position. Oh! I recollect that when there was a terrible justice in the retribution dealt | you first came to live with us in Hunter Street, I by the hand of private vengeance. Ellen, Lord Frederick is about to take his depar- ture for the Continent; and he has assured me he shall there bury himself in some seclusion for the remainder of his days. Have you anything to urge against the decision which has thus been ar- rived at ?” “ Té is not for me, my dear sir,” I answered, “ to offer an opinion in matters of sueh exceeding deli- cacy.” “Yes, Ellen—as a friend of the family may you In a word, | told you that such was my ambition, and in my vanity I looked upon my face as my fortune. It is true that when Frederick first presented him- self as my suitor, L loved him—and therefore I am spared the bitterness of the reflection of having thrown myself into his arms entirely through am- bition and without the purer and more feminine impulse of attachment Nevertheless, I feel that I am punished for whatsoever amount of ambition I did entertain th “Speak not thus, Juliet!” I said: “why re- ah pn Ea © a TO COMMU VOOLK (CO)