Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 364: what you’re looking at

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

ELLEN PERCY; OB, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. dol but I had however previously made up my mind not to stop longer at the miserable public-house which was so vividly depicted in my recollection, than should be necessary to procure a lodging at some respectable tradesman’s house. But when the postchaise stopped, it was not in front of the public-house which I thus remembered: neither was it a miserable old mannora blear-eyed woman who came forward to reeeive us. The spirit of enterprise had penetrated into Embledon since I was last there; innovation and improvement had rendered the place barely recognisable. For there, instead of the public-house, stood a small but neat and well-built inn; and instead of a crazily swing- ing sign, with a daub to represent a green dragon, there were the words indicating the name itself in gilt letters along the facade of the building. The landlord and landlady, who made their appearance, were a young couple of most respectable demeanour, to the reader, I did not wish to return immediately to Tremaine Hall; and I had nothing to keep me any longer at Embledon. I thought of returning to London and writing some efficient excuse to my friends in Staffordshire. Upon this course I re- solved; and I ordered a postchaise to be in readi- ness on the following morning after breakfast, to take Beda and myself to Birmingham, whence we might proceed by the railway to the metropolis. But how true is the proverb that “ while human beings propose, heaven disposes!” Who could have foreseen or anticipated what was to occur to alter the plans which I had formed? Let me however pursue the thread of my narrative in due order. The morning dawned, gloomy, misty, and damp ; and as the landlord, who acted as his own waiter, accompanied his wife to bring in some of the materials for breakfast, he remarked that “ the and neatly dressed; and when Beda and myself | scent would be capital,” and that “ the fox-hounds were introduced into a private apartment, we at once abandoned the idea of seeking lodgings else- where. The dusk was setting in, for it was in the very midst of winter; and therefore I determined to take no step’in the business which had brought me thither until the following day. In the morning, after breakfast, I proceeded to the vicarage, attended by Beda; and I inquired for the Reverend Mr. Croft. Again, for the second time, did I find myself in the presence of the short stout gentleman with a very red face, who exer- cised the spiritual control over that district: and the moment I gave him my card, he exclaimed, “ Miss Percy! Miss Percy! Why, surely I have had the pleasure of seeing you before P” “Yes,” I answered: “two years ago I called upon you for some little information.” , “T remember!” he ejaculated. “You wanted to see another Mr. Croft who resided in the vil- lage P” *“ And now, sir,” I hastened to interrupt him, “my business is of quite a different character.” I explained it; and he said, “ You shall see the registers immediately. It will give me much plea- sure to assist your researches to the utmost of my power. I was told by my predecessor, when [I first came to Embledon about twenty years ago, that there used to be in his time a constant hunting and searching after particular entries connected with the great Wakefields of Warwickshire a “But during your time, sir,” I interjected, “I presume that spirit of inquiry has completely. died away?” . '| attached to the sport! PP were to meet at the Whitestone Edge close by. Little interested indeed was I on such a subject ; but for courtesy’s sake [ made some remark; and the landlord proceeded to observe, “ I daresay the Viscount will be with them to-day. He is greatly The Earl his father used to be one of the best riders in the whole county, I’ve heard: but ever since he had a paralytic stroke about eighteen months ago, he has not crossed a horse.” . Beda and I glanced at each other ; for the gar- rulous landlord little thought how much we could tell of the Earl of Carshalton’s sudden illness in the railway train, and that instead of being para- lysis, it was apoplexy with which he had been smitten at the time. However, we said nothing ; and having finished our breakfast, we took our seats in the postchaise. Away we went; and Em- bledon was soon three or four miles behind us. All of a sudden we heard the postilion give a loud and joyous “ Halloa!”—and glancing out of the window, we beheld & corps of hunters in their red- coats dashing across an adjacent field at a tro- mendous rate. In less than a minute another cry burst from the postilion’s lips: but this time it was one of terror—and the vehicle dashed on at a quicker pace than before. I looked forth from one window—Beda from the other ; and we per- ceived” that some accident had occurred at the turnpike-gate a little way ahead. We were speedily upon the spot; and the truth was quickly ascertained. There were cross-roads at that place : and the foremost individual of the hunting party “Yes, in reference to the Wakefield family,” | had in a moment of ungovernable excitement, or rejoined the clergyman. any one has been to me for such a purpose before “J donot remember that | else of most preposterous bravado, ridden his horse at one of the gates. A terrible accident was the to-day. But come, Miss Percy —and you shall! consequence: the adventurous rider was thrown; enter upon your investigation at once.” Still accompanied by Beda, I proceeded to the | who had gathered upon the spot. and the utmost consternation prevailed amongst all But who was church; and there several hours were passed in j the individual that had thus become the victim of looking over the registers—but without any satis- factory result. At length I gave up the investi- gation, convinced that it was useless to pursue it: but I contrived to recompense Mr. Croft for his his own foolish vanity or mad audacity? It was Viscount Ravenscliffe ! Could it be possible that within so short a space after I had heard the narrative of his treachery to trouble by placing five guineas in his hand and; Sarah Barron, I was destined to become the begging that he would dispose of the amount in _any way that he thought fit for the benefit of his parish. When I was again at the Green Dragon, I deliberated with myself upon the course that I should now pursue. Jor reasons that are known witness of what might be looked upon as heaven’s chastisement for the nobleman’s misdeeds? At least such was the reflection that struck me at the very instant I learnt the name of the personage to whom the accident had occurred. COLA (C NOOK (C(0)