Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 68: what you’re looking at

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er re a -_—_---— ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. 55 Again she paused : her countenance was averted —but I saw that her bosom heaved with a silent convulsing sob: and I warmly pressed the hand which I still retained in mine own. “Tt was no fault of his,” she presently con- tinued, “ that everything was broken off between us. His pecuniary means were limited; and though he had wealthy relatives, yet for certain reasons he had no expectations in that quarter. As for myself, I was penniless and dependent on the bounty of friends. In the fulness of his gene- rous love—in the magnanimity of his disposition —he would have wedded me; for he declared that by dint of the strictest economy his means would be ample enovgh for us both. I knew the con- trary ; and I would not reward so much generous love on his part by selfishness on mine own. No! I would not make him feel the bitterness of poverty by espousing me! I explained my motives. Two months have elapsed since that last interview took place we parted—with what feelings I leave you to imagine: but I felt that I had done my duty—and the approval of my own conscience has sustained me ever since.” : “And did you tell him,” I gently inquired, “that-you purposed to seek the stage as a means of eating the bread of independence P” | *Yes—I dealt frankly with him on all points,” replied Aline. “Oh! it was with the most pas- sionate entreaties he conjured me to alter my de- cision and consent to become his wife; and it was with the bitterest anguish in my own heart that I implored him to consider everything to be at an end between us. I told him that I loved him too much to permit him to make such great sacrifices on my account: I conjured him likewise not to seek to alter my decision, nor to renew the pain of that interview by meeting me again. And since that time I have not seen him—L have not heard of him !” I had listened with the deepest interest to this narrative, which afforded me a striking illustration of the generosity and self-sacrificing magnanimity of Aline Marcy’s disposition. But as I reflected gravely upon the subject, I said, “Is not every- thing you have told me a reason, my dear Aline, why you should pause and hesitate ere you take the final step which may render your severance from him whom you love, complete and irre- vocable? It is not wealth that constitutes happi- ness: he himself assured you that though his means were limited, yet they would suffice for both d “Do not endeavour to persuade me, my dear Ellen,” interrupted Mademoiselle Marcy, “to re- consider my decision, Oh! it is such representa- tions as these that weaken the purpose——and mine must not be weakened! He whom f loved is devoted to the profession to which he belongs; and this profession requires that he should main- tain a certain appearance. Such an appearance he could not support with limited means :—Sshall I therefore become the cause of thus limiting them? No, no!—heaven forbid! Such conduct would not be a proof of love on my part, but an evidence of selfishness. To see his pride wounded by the necessity of making those shifts and con. trivances to which one is reduced by a limited purse—to see him unable to join in the recreations of his companions—to know that ho felt the cold iron of poverty entering into his soul Oh! this would be more than I could endure! On all these things I reflected ; and thus was my decision taken. Besides,” added Aline abruptly, “ that decision has been proclaimed—but alas! it pro- duced words of excitement and anger at parting ; for he accused me of a want of love; and I—I, Ellen, preferred to rest under the weight of a charge which crushed my very soul with affliction, rather than abandon a decision which wis formed conscientiously and adopted after the most serious self-communing ! There was again a brief pause, and then Aline said in a low soft voice, “Therefore you perceive, Ellen, that even if I were not disposed to revoke that decision of mine, it is too late! The bonds are broken—and it was I who severed them! He has not again sought me—he has not communi- cated with me—and I have every reason to believe that he has made no endeavour to ascertain whither I went after I quitted the home that was so generously afforded me by Lady Kelvedon’s parents, Mr. and Mts. Wyvill. Therefore he may be angry—he may really believe that I loved him not to the extent which my assurances con- veyed: or else, on the other hand, he may have listened to the dictates of reason, and he may have satisfied himself that what I did was for the best!” “Your conduct, Aline, has been most noble and generous—most self-denyine and admirable,” I exclaimed. “May heaven grant that you never will have reason to repent of it!” “Ido not tell you; Ellen, that I am happy,” replied the beautiful girl; “but my soul is re- signed to its destiny—-and in the consciousness of having performed one’s duty there is a certain re- ward.” Here the conversation was terminated by the announcement that Lady Kelvedon’s carriage had arrived to take Aline Marcy to Haton Square. In the evening of that same day, as I and Mary Glentworth were seated at the dinner-table, a note was brought in by the servant; and on opening it I read the following words, written in a bold round hand :—“To-night at nine o’clock your presence is required. Fail not!” I knew full well from whom this missive came: if was a summons from the gipsy patriarch Gil- deroy. CHAPTER LUXXVII. THE ACCUSED. PRECISELY at nine o’clock Beda and myself, dressed in our plainest apparel, and closely veiled as on the former occasion, turned into the dark court forming the approach to the establishment of Gilderoy Hemp. We had at first thought of seeking admittance by the door which had afforded us egress into the adjacent street; but inasmuch as on the occasion referred to, we had received no intimation to the effect that we might adopt this course, we concluded that it would be better to proceed by the route which we were now taking. This time if was without the slightest hesitation as well as without fear that I repaired to Gilde- (COMMU 0)(0 0) (EO)