Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 333: what you’re looking at

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a ee ee ee a 320 messages hofeward; and we will send into Staf- ford for such letters as the postman may not have been enabled to deliver. More I cannot do, be- yond offering you the most cordial hospitalities of my abodé.” Such was Mr. Tremaine’s speech; and as a mat- ter of course, expressions of gratitude emanated from the lips of all. But I could see that there were many whose looks as plainly as possible inter- preted the annoyance and vexation which filled their hearts,—those looks being as much as to say, “]T wisb, in the name of heaven, that I for one had not on this occasion crossed the threshold of Tremaine Hall !” There was a moral lesson to be gained from the study of the countenances, the conduct, and the demeanour of the multitude of guests now gathered at the breakfast-table. Those who had been blithest on the preceding evening, were now the most dispirited ; thuse who had seemed the most ready to enjoy themselves in the ball-room, were now the very first to feel the influence of ennui; those who had looked most gay, now ap- peared the most jaded: while, on the contrary, those who had seemed to enter the least into the light-hearted spirit of the preceding evening’s en- tertainments, were now the foremost in exerting themselves ‘to cheer the tempers and exhilarate the moods of those around them. i furthermore observed that those who were most flattering and complimentary towards the hostess and their daughters on the preceding evening, were now the most reserved and distant—as if in the sullen- ness of their ill-conditioned minds they actually ascribed the fault of the flood to their enter- tainers, and instead of thanking them for their hospitality, were almost ready to turn round upon them and savagely demand, “ Why, in heaven’s name, did you ask us here at all ?” Oh, the false gloss which society so often wears! —Ob, the littleness of mind, the paltriness of character, the churlishness and selfishness of dispo- sition, which particular circumstances are calcu- lated to display! Ob, the hypocritical smiles which are worn as a mask !—Oh, the unseemly wrinkles which the true light of day lays bare ! And then I thought to myself, as I contemplated a sbaded-silk dress which an old dowager wore, * Society is like shot-silk: 1¢ must be viewed from all points and in all lights, as well as in all situations —or else its colours will assuredly deceive us !” But to continue the thread of my narrative. The company were doomed to pass another day at Tremaine Hall; and I felt myself destined to pass another night in the haunted chamber. I can hardly tell how the forenoon was whiled away until luncheon-time; but I remember that bil- liards and bagatelle were rendered available—a party of four dowagers made up a rubber of whist, the effect of which was to render two of them more savage than ever. because they lost, and to console the other two because they won— some of the younger ladies betook themselves to embroidery or other fancy work—and divers books of prints were languidly turned over and over again. But there was an improvement in the state of affairs at luncheon-time; for not only did the repast itself cheer the spirits of the depressed and the desponding, affording an excuse for drink- ing wine, cherry-brandy, and bottled stout, but the eS eee ELLEN PEECY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. same period beheld the arrival of the. letters and newspapers. There happened to be a very piquant elopement-case; and by the aid of this, together with a murder and a burglary reported at great length, the company got on very excellently until dinner-time. It was not until the hour of dressing for this repast, that I had an opportunity of speaking to Mrs, Tremaine or to Charlotte in reference to my intention to pass another night in the haunted room. “T cannot think of it, my dear Miss Percy,” said Mrs. Tremaine, emphatically. * But your embarrassments and perplexities on account of your guests,” I replied, “are just the same as they were last night; and it is a perfect matter of indifference to me where I sleep.” “Mr. Tremaine would never permit it !—the Colonel would be most indignant!” ejaculated the lady of the house; “and if it were known that I had suffered you to do such a thing ? *Do listen to what mamma says, Ellen!” inter- jected Charlotte. ‘“ Wecan make other arrange- ments for you: you can have back your own room —Lavinia and Emilia can occupy it with you— and Miss Barron shall share my chamber, along with Lydia and Phebe :”’—+thus alluding to two others of her sisters. ** What is this?” inquired Miss Barron, who at the moment entered the back drawing-room where the little colloquy was taking place between my- self, Mrs. Tremaine, and Charlotte. Miss Percy is making up her mind to be ob- stinate,” said Mrs, Tremaine, but with a good- natured smile. “She will not listen to reason— she. persists in sleeping again in the haunted room.” “Ah!” ejaculated Miss Barron. Miss Perey = ‘“* All remonstrance is vain,” I interrupted her : “T am determined! And why should I not? You, my dear madam,” I continued, turning to Mrs. Tremaine, “ have occupied that chamber, with Mr. Tremaine; and without arrogating to myself any very exalted amount of courage ra “Oh, we know you are courageous, Ellen!” in- terrupted Charlotte: “we require no additional proof of that /—and therefore if you have no other reason to sleep in the haunted chamber, pray do as mamma requests you.” “But I have another reason,” I rejoined, with some degree of emphasis. “ There is a little dis- covery which I wish to make i * A discovery?” ejaculated Charlotte. “ Do you mean that you really wish to see the ghosts ?” **No—I could scarcely be so foolish as to wish to see them,” I replied, with aswile; “even if I were foolish enough to believe inthem. But I tell you again that there is a little discovery I am de- sirous of making; and it refers to the cupboard in the corner farthest from the door. However, it is no use for you to question me any fur- ther——” ; But I stopped short ; for I was struck by the singularity of the look which all the three ladies now wore;-and then Charlotte suddenly said, “ Have you heard the tale from any source ?” “No,” I replied; “and I do not want to hear it—at least not for the present. Do bear with me—let me sleep in that room to-night—ard to- ‘6 Really, ECORNICLOOC) ——EEE———— —— ——— —- Ce eee Ce (E@)