Chapter X

She is virtuous, though bred behind the scenes:  and, whatever pleasure she may feel in seeing herself applauded on the stage, she would much rather pass for a modest girl, than for a good actress.—­Gil Blas.

“My father,” said Eugenia, “was at the head of this company of strolling players; my mother was a young lady of respectable family, at a boarding-school.  She took a fancy to my father in the character of ‘Rolla’; and, being of course deservedly forsaken by her friends, became a prima donna.  I was the only fruits of this connection, and the only solace of my mother in her affliction; for she bitterly repented the rash step she had taken.

“At five years old, my father proposed that I should take the character of Cupid, in the opera of Telemaque.  To this my mother strongly objected, declaring that I never should go upon the stage; and this created a disunion which was daily embittered by my father’s unkind treatment both of my mother and myself.  I never left her side for fear of a kick, which I was sure to receive when I had not her protection.  She employed all her spare time in my instruction, and, notwithstanding the folly she had been guilty of, she was fully competent to the task.

“When I was seven years old, a relation of my mother died, and bequeathed fifteen thousand pounds, to be equally divided between her and her two sisters, securing my mother’s portion in such a manner as to prevent my father having any control over it.  As soon as my mother obtained this information, she quitted my father, who was too prudent to spend either his time or his money in pursuit of her.  Had he been aware of her sudden change of fortune, he might have acted differently.

“We arrived in London, took possession of the property, which was all in the funds; and then, fearing my father might gain information of her wealth, my mother set off for France, taking me with her.  There I passed the happiest days of my life; my mother spared no pains, and went to considerable expense in my education.  The best masters were provided for me in singing, dancing, and music; and so much did I profit by their instruction, that I was very soon considered a pretty specimen of my countrywomen, and much noticed accordingly.

“From France we went to Italy, where we remained two years, and where my vocal education was completed.  My poor mother lived all this time on the principal of her fortune, concluding it would last for ever.  At last she was taken ill of a fever, and died.  This was about a year ago, when I was only sixteen.  Delirious many days before her death, she could give me no instructions as to my future conduct, or where to apply for resources.  I happened, however, to know her banker in London, and wrote to him immediately; in answer, he informed me that a balance of forty pounds was all that remained in his hands.