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Whereupon John stepped up； put one hand round Lucy's waist； and as
one of hers gently fell upon his shoulder； Mr。 Perkins took the other and
said；
〃Now jump。〃
Hoop！ jump she did； and so excessively active and clever was Mr。
John Perkins； that he jumped Miss Lucy plump into the middle of a group
formed of
Lady Gorgon； The Misses Gorgon； Master George Augustus Frederick
Grimsby Gorgon；
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And a footman； poodle； and French governess： who had all been for
two or three minutes listening to the billings and cooings of these
imprudent young lovers。
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CHAPTER II。
SHOWS HOW THE PLOT BEGAN TO THICKEN IN OR
ABOUT BEDFORD ROW。
〃Miss Lucy！〃
〃Upon my word！〃
〃I'm hanged if it arn't Lucy！ How do； Lucy？〃 uttered Lady； the
Misses； and Master Gorgon in a breath。
Lucy came forward； bending down her ambrosial curls； and blushing；
as a modest young woman should： for； in truth； the scrape was very
awkward。 And as for John Perkins； he made a start； and then a step
forwards； and then two backwards； and then began laying hands upon his
black satin stockin short； the sun did not shine at that moment upon a
man who looked so exquisitely foolish。
〃Miss Lucy Gorgon； is your auntis Mrs。 Briggs here？〃 said Lady
Gorgon； drawing herself up with much state。
〃Mrs。 Biggs； Aunt？〃 said Lucy demurely。
〃Biggs or Briggs； madam； it is not of the slightest consequence。 I
presume that persons in my rank of life are not expected to know
everybody's name in Magdeburg Square？〃 （Lady Gorgon had a house in
Baker Street； and a dismal house it was。） 〃NOT here；〃 continued she；
rightly interpreting Lucy's silence； 〃NOT here？and may I ask how long
is it that young ladies have been allowed to walk abroad without
chaperons； and toto take a part in such scenes as that which we have just
seen acted？〃
To this questionand indeed it was rather difficult to answerMiss
Gorgon had no reply。 There were the six grey eyes of her cousins
glowering at her； there was George Augustus Frederick examining her
with an air of extreme wonder； Mademoiselle the governess turning her
looks demurely away； and awful Lady Gorgon glancing fiercely at her in
front。 Not mentioning the footman and poodle； what could a poor
modest timid girl plead before such an inquisition； especially when she
was clearly guilty？ Add to this； that as Lady Gorgon； that majestic
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woman； always remarkable for her size and insolence of demeanour； had
planted herself in the middle of the path； and spoke at the extreme pitch of
her voice； many persons walking in the neighbourhood had heard her
Ladyship's speech and stopped； and seemed disposed to await the
rejoinder。
〃For Heaven's sake； Aunt； don't draw a crowd around us；〃 said Lucy；
who； indeed； was glad of the only escape that lay in her power。 〃I will
tell you of theof the circumstances ofof my engagement with this
gentlemanwith Mr。 Perkins；〃 added she； in a softer toneso soft that the
'ERKINS was quite inaudible。
〃A Mr。 What？ An engagement without consulting your guardians！〃
screamed her Ladyship。 〃This must be looked to！ Jerningham； call
round my carriage。 Mademoiselle； you will have the goodness to walk
home with Master Gorgon； and carry him； if you please； where there is
wet； and； girls； as the day is fine； you will do likewise。 Jerningham； you
will attend the young ladies。 Miss Gorgon； I will thank you to follow me
immediately。〃 And so saying； and looking at the crowd with ineffable
scorn； and at Mr。 Perkins not at all； the lady bustled away forwards； the
files of Gorgon daughters and governess closing round and enveloping
poor Lucy； who found herself carried forward against her will； and in a
minute seated in her aunt's coach； along with that tremendous person。
Her case was bad enough； but what was it to Perkins's？ Fancy his
blank surprise and rage at having his love thus suddenly ravished from
him； and his delicious tete…a…tete interrupted。 He managed； in an
inconceivably short space of time； to conjure up half…a…million obstacles to
his union。 What should he do？ he would rush on to Baker Street； and
wait there until his Lucy left Lady Gorgon's house。
He could find no vehicle in the Regent's Park； and was in consequence
obliged to make his journey on foot。 Of course； he nearly killed himself
with running； and ran so quick； that he was just in time to see the two
ladies step out of Lady Gorgon's carriage at her own house； and to hear
Jerningham's fellow…footman roar to the Gorgonian coachman； 〃Half…past
seven！〃 at which hour we are； to this day； convinced that Lady Gorgon
was going out to dine。 Mr。 Jerningham's associate having banged to the
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door； with an insolent look towards Perkins； who was prying in with the
most suspicious and indecent curiosity； retired； exclaiming； 〃That chap has
a hi to our great…coats； I reckon！〃 and left John Perkins to pace the street
and be miserable。
John Perkins then walked resolutely up and down dismal Baker Street；
determined on an eclaircissement。 He was for some time occupied in
thinking how it was that the Gorgons were not at church； they who made
such a parade of piety； and John Perkins smiled as he passed the chapel；
and saw that two CHARITY SERMONS were to be preached that day
and therefore it was that General Gorgon read prayers to his family at
home in the morning。
Perkins； at last； saw that l