Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 397: what you’re looking at

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384 of indescribable joy, caught her in his arms. and sobbed for very happiness! gether. In reference to the stratagem which had been practised towards the Marquis of Dalrymple, a few It was ori- words of explanation must be given. ginally suggested by Lady Frederick Ravenscliffe ; and it was caught at with avidity by Mary Glent- worth. It was no wonder that the experiences of Juliet’s life should have prompted the idea of putting the young nobleman’s love for Mary to the severest test; nor was it astonishing that, peculiarly situated as Mary herself was, she should have sanctioned a course the result of which would be to show her whether it were wise to bestow her hand on Herbert Dalrymple, or whether it would be more prudent for her to release him altogether from his engagement. did not fall very readily into the plot, because I ‘ dislike all duplicities, deceptions, and misrepre- sentations of every kind. But when I came very seriously to contemplate the plan thus proposed for my co-operation—and when I duly weighed the importance of the result that was to be obtained —I certainly came to the conclusion that if ever there were a stratagem which though based on falsehood, appeared venial and justifiable, it was this. Having been led to adopt that view of it, it will be no longer surprising to the reader that I should have yielded to Mary Glentworth’s en- treaties and Juliet’s representations, and that I became the principal actress in carrying out the scheme. My own opinion in reference to the re- sult may be gathered from the following explana- tion which I gave to Juliet so soon as I had left the Marguis and Mary together: — ‘‘T can assure you, my dear Juliet, that I tested Herbert in every possible way. At one time I bade him divert his attention from the topic: but. he insisted upon coming back to it. I directed his thoughts towards the future years of his life, and spoke to him of the period when he would become Duke of Ardleigh: but nothing that I thus sug- gested seemed to engender the slightest selfish consideration nor to render worldly-minded mo- tives dominant over the heart’s affections. On the other hand, I addressed myself to his tenderest sensibilities: I spoke to him of Mary as she was when first I knew her ; and then you should have seen how the tears gushed forth from his eyes and how convulsive were the sobs that rent his heart !” “‘The experiment has therefore succeeded,” ex- claimed Juliet ; “and the happiness of our dear friend Mary will be all the more complete! Did the Marquis ask you any questions ei “Do you mean in reference to Mary’s recent confinement?’ I inquired; and then, as Juliet intimated an affirmative, I went on to say, “The Marquis put not a single question upon the point. I suffered him to understand that the child lived —that it was of the female sex—and that the little infant had been consigned to the care of trustworthy persons. And now that Herbert has discovered that the tale of Mary’s death was a mere fiction ——————— am —now that he is rendered supremely happy, and I confess that at first I pletely restored ; ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, And then her arms were thrown around his neck—the sensation of faintness passed off—and she wept I lingered for,a few moments to gaze upon the scene; and then I glided from the room, leaving the lovers to- that he will shortly lead her to the altar—he will doubtless breathe an inward vow never more to allude to that one past incident in her life!” “Think you that he will never speak to her of the child?” asked Lady Frederick,—“ that he will not out of very generosity propose something sooner or later for the child’s welfare ?” “Oh! this is a question, my dear Juliet,” I ex- claimed, “ on which we need not now speculate! It belongs to the future. The child is provided for under all circumstances,” Here the conversation dropped : but in reference to the remark which had just fallen from my own lips, I ought to observe that all the moneys of which Mary Glentworth could dispose, were ap- propriated for the purpose alluded to. She had the legacy of five hundred pounds bequeathed her by Mrs. Oldcastle; and she had some savings which she had made during the short time she was upon the stage. These amounts, together with @ sum which I had insisted upon adding from my own newly acquired riches, constituted a hand- some fund for the maintenance of the child which had been consigned to the care of strangers. Need I inform the reader that Herbert Dal- rymple speedily forgave us all for the stratagem which had been practised, and of which he even approved? Indeed he felt proud at having been put to such a test, painful to his feelings though at the time it had been. He remained a week at River House; and at the expirafion of that i in- terval he set off again for Naples. Mary Glentworth and Juliet now accompanied me tu London, to stay with me at my own house in Great Ormond Street. Mary’s health was com- and Beda declared that she thought the trip of a few months to the neigh- bourhood of the sea-side had made Miss Glent- worth look handsomer than ever, Count Teleki now became, a very frequbat visitor in Great Ormond Street ; and it was by no means difficult to perceive where the attraction lay. The idea I had formed some time previously on the subject seemed to be fully justified: the rich Hungarian nobleman was enamoured of Lady Frederick. Mr. Norman now returned to Eng- land, in better health and spirits than he had been since his wife’s death. I need hardly state that it was with the most unfeigned pleasure he beheld the attentions which Count Teleki was bestowing upon his daughter ; and I may add that in a little private discourse which took place be- tween Mr. Norman and myself, I was enabled to inform him that Juliet had confessed to me she - was very far from insensible to the handsome per- son, fascinating manners, and many excellent quali- ties of the Hungarian nobleman. Upwards of two months elapsed from the date of the stratagem practised towards the Marquis of Dalrymple; and now this young nobleman himself returned from Italy. I had suggested that it would be expedient for him to obtain, if possible, his father’s sanction to his marriage with Mary Glentworth—or at all ‘events to communi- cate to his ducal sire his intentions on the point. He had the tact to enlist on his side the interest | of Mr. Peaseblossom; and this gentleman used | his influence with the Duke so effectually asto | obtain his sanction to the alliance. The Duke | would not however consent to come to England to ECORMCOOOKS.e©