Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 391: what you’re looking at

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

tee ssssse tenese ee es - ee 378 poor Mary’s secret! 1t would necessitate so many explanations, which it were better not to give; and it would likewise overwhelm poor Mary her- herself with shame.” “Trust to me,” said Juliet: “I will write the letter. And, Oh! a thousand, thousand thanks, Ellen, for your kindness towards my dear father! How rejoiced will he be to hear of your renewed pros- perity! But, Ah! I have something to tell you PP “ Good heavens!” I ejaculated; ‘‘ and I had as completely forgotten something as if it had never occurred at all! Here is a packet of letters from your father ” ee “From my father?” cried Jaliet in astonish- ment. “ But how did they come ?” “Whom should I meet just now upon the quay, but Count Teleki + , “The very name I also was on the point of men- tioning !” ejaculated Juliet. “The truth is, I felt uneasy at your prolonged absence: I went out to the front gate to see whether I could discern you coming along the road, when two handsome equipages, drawn by post-horsés, dashed past—and from the window of the foremost a very courteous bow was made to me % | “IT am glad you found it courteous, Juliet,” I interrupted her; “for I presume you are speaking of Count Teleki? But really I think his conduct would have been soméwhat more polite if instedd of consigning this packet to me, he had stopped for a moment at River House to deliver it with his own hand. You see, your father has written in the cornet, ‘ Honoured by the Count Teleki? * “ And I also thought, as the equipages dashéd past,” said Juligt, in a lower tone than she had previously adopted, and with a slight flush upon her cheeks—“1 also thought at the time that he might have stopped, if only fora moment! Bée- cause, you #émember the last time we saw him in London, he asked so particularly about the situa- tion of River House; and he gratuitously pro- mised with so much apparent sincerity to eall as he passed by on his return from the Continent.” “Think of him no more!” I said; “but see if those letters from your father bring any intelli- gence of importance.” Juliet opened the packet; but she had not perused many lines of its contents, when an eja- culation of mingled surprise and joy burst from her lips—and she exclaimed, “ Good heavens, what noble conduct! Ah! your kind deed is antici- pated, Ellen!” “ Anticipated? What! is your father relieved from his liabilities?” I asked. , “ Yes,” rejoined Juliet, her superbly handsome countenance now glowing with animation. “ And who do you think is the kind friend % “You cannot possibly mean Count Teleki?” I ejaculated. “T mean Count Teleki,” returned Juliet; and deeper grew the blush upon her cheeks. “ Ob, how noble, and how delicately done! And still more delicate too, if possible, was the Count’s conduct just now, which would not permit him to become the bearer in person of letters announcing his own generous action !” ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. main abroad for a month or so. It would not do| judged him,” I said: “but really it was not my that he should return just at this time, to learn | own fault. How could I possibly have foreseen that this letter was about to reveal to you so noble an action on Count Teleki’s part ?” And noble it indeed was! It appeared that Count Teleki fell in with Mr. Norman at the prin- cipal hotel at Strasburg; and having seen Mr, Norman on the stage, he at once recognised him. Rumour whispered in the Count’s ear the peculiar situation in which Mr. Norman was placed through a too generous confidence in a perfidious friend; and the Count availed himself of a speedy oppor- tunity to address Mr. Norman on the subject. Then, in the most kind and delicate manner, he forced upon him the sum sufficient to liquidate the obligation,—bidding him repay if at his lei- sure, but conveying this information in a tone that showed it was veritably @ gift, and not a loan which he had bestowed on Juliet’s father. * And what think you, Hilen,” asked Juliet, with a blush still glowing upon her. cheeks, “ of such generous conduct as this ?” I certainly had my own ideas upon the sub- ject. I thought that the Count never would dis- play such wondrous liberality towards the sire, unless he were more of less smitten with the charms of the daughter—and if this were really the case, I had toé high an opinion of Count Teleki’s honour, from all that I had heard of him, to suppose that he was harbouring any views insulting to the character and feputation of Juliet. But still I did not like to encourage in my friend’s mind a hope that might be probably disappointed : and I therefore said in an indifferent and offhand manner, “Oh, this is just the line of conduct whieh & chivalrous-minded foreigner would be likely to pursue !” | Fast now sat down to write several letters, for the necessity of a somewhat extensive correspondence was suddenly entailed upon me by the restoration of my fortune. There were numerous friends who were deeply interested in me, and to them I knew that the tidings would prove most welcome. Thus I wrote to the Carshaltons—to Lady Kel- vedon—to the Countess of Belgrave—to Aline Gower, and to Charlotte Tremaine; nor did { for- get to communicate the joyous intelligence to my faithful dependant Beda. I must also observe that I presently received the warmest congratulations from Mary Gientworth, whose language was fraught with the most sisterly sincerity as she spoke to me on the subject. 1 musi add that I wrote in the kindest possible strain to Mr. Mac- donald, assuring him of my everlasting friendship and esteem, and expressing my conviction that all enterprises which were based upon such honourable principles as those which he displayed, must inevi- tably succeed in the long run, The hour of Mary Glentworth’s sore trial was approaching, and in the evening Mr. Singleton, the surgeon, was fetched. The nurse had already been sent for: and all the requisite preparations, in short, were duly made under Juliet’s super- vision, J presently found myself alone with Mr. Singleton; and he said to me, “ Weil, my dear Miss Percy, I think everythiog has been done that could possibly be contrived for the keeping of Miss Glentworth’s secret.” “But you are aware, Mr. Singleton,” I re- “ Deeply do I regret that I should have mis-/} sponded, “how vitally important it is that the eiook ‘