Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

eee Shetty 70 day was now close at hand when Aline Marcy | and Mary Glentworth were to make their debug at the theatre. I felt tolerably confident that they would both achieve a signal success; and I sin- cerely hoped that such would be the case—not only for their own sake—but for that of Mr. Richards. The lessee had treated me with generosity, as well | as with the strictest punctuality and integrity in his dealings; and I thought to myself that if I should shortly leave the stage, it would be a source of gratification for me to know that the services of my two pupils would still prove lucrative to the manager’s treasury. The evening fixed for the debut arrived; and both my pupils were full of courage and confidence. We were all three to appear in a new piece, which had been expressly written for the purpose of intro- ducing us in three distinguished parts upon the I conceived that the drama had by its own stage. intrinsic merits every possible chance of success: the author had proved most willing to listen to certain suggestions that I had offered; and thus I was resolved to exert all my energies to ensure the I felt confident that triumph of his production. in this endeavour I should be ably supported by Aline and Mary; and from other circumstances every encouragement was to be derived. The an- .nouncement of the twofold debut, in connexion with my own appearance in the same piece, had excited the utmost sensation in the theatre-going the instant the doors were thrown open, there was a tremendous rush on the part of the assembled crowd, not more than one-third of whom could possibly hope to succeed in obtaining admittance. The vast theatre was quickly filled to suffocation ; while hundreds and hundreds went away in dis- appointment frum the portals. In the meantime Aline Marcy, Mary Glent- worth, and myself were assembled in my dressing- room,—where, assisted by Beda, we were per- forming our respective toilets. If I suffer the reader to peep into that dressing-room for a few moments, he may discern a tableau which is not perhaps altogether uninteresting, Let me sketch it at a moment when, my own toilet being finished, I was resting myself upona species of chaise longue, or ottoman with a back to it. My costume was characterized rather by an elegant simplicity than by richness. A wreath of flowers was the only ornament which | wore for my hair: my arms were bare to the shoulders,—each embellished with a simple bracelet. At the dressing-table Mary Glentworth, whose toilet was not as yet quite achieved, was waiting while Beda brought the muslin dress which alone remained to be put on. She looked exceedingly handsome; and a crescent gleaming above her forehead, was the sole ornament for her luxuriant light brown hair. The costume in which she was to appear, was admirably calculated to set off her fine shape to the fullest advantage; and I knew that the beauty of her person could not fail to make its impression upon the spectators. I entertained the same idea in reference to the lovely Aline Marcy. Her toilet was already finished: it was somewhat a fanciful one—for she was to represent a lady of the Court of Louis the Fifteenth of France. her dress was elaborately embroidered and worked: world: every box was engaged beforehand— and | | her light hair was turned back from her forehead, $$ LL TT The bodice of ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. in precisely the same style which she usually adopted, and which so much became her. A little velvet cap, with a single feather, gave het a mosf piquante appearance. Her arms were bare,— those arms which, as I have already stated on @ former occasion, were so beautifully modelled! In a word, her costume, as well as that of Mary Glentworth, was most exquisitely suited for the display of all the graces and elegancies of the person. “You are full of confidence, Mary?” I said, thus addressing Miss Glentworth as I rested my- self on the ottoman; “and you recollect every line—every word of your part P” “very line—every word,” she answered, turn- ing towards me from the toilet-table, where she had just been arranging a stray tress before the mirror. ‘“ As for confidence, my dear Hilen, I feel sure that the moment the first sense of bewilder- ment shall have passed when the curtain draws up and reveals to me the gaze of the immense audi- ence, I shall be as calm and collected as when rehearsing my part this morning to empty benches.” “And you, Aline,” I said, turning towards Mademoiselle Marcy, who having finished her own toilet, was at the instant studying an attitude in front of the full-length looking-glass, or psyche, which stood in the middle of the Gressing-room, —“you, I have no doubt, can give an equally favourable account ?” “Yes, my dear friend,” replied the beautiful French girl. “I am full of confidence and courage: but do not think that I am possessed by ”? an overweening vanity or conceit “No, no!” I exclaimed: “there is a wide dif- ference between the confidence which one reposes in oneself, and that conceit to which you allude. By the bye, Aline, I presume Lord and Lady Kel-’ vedon are to be here this evening P” “Ob, yes!” responded Mademoiselle Marcy: “her ladyship assured me this afternoon that they should make a point of attending. They have engaged a box, and will be accompanied by several friends.” I glanced at Mary Glentworth, to ascertain, if possible, by her looks, whether she were thinking of the Ardleigh family, and wondering whether they also would be present. Our eyes met: Mary’s countenance was perfectly composed: she evidently fathomed what was passing in my mind +-for bending down, she whispered to me, “ Let them be there! Their presence assuredly will not rufie me! On the contrary, if i succeed, my triumph will be the more complete by being enabled to prove to them that I shall henceforth eat the bread earned by myself, and that therefore I am more than ever independent of their eleemo- synary charity.” Beda now proceeded to assist in the completion of Mary Glentworth’s toilet; and rising from my seat on the ottoman, I glanced in the psyche to assure myself that nothing was wanting in respect to my own costume. At that moment Aline Marcy drew me aside; and she said in a low hur- ried whisper, “There is only one point on which I experience the least uneasiness! I should not like that he of whom I have once spoken to you, Ellen, should by any chance be present on this occasion !” Gomichboo er (Ee)