the bedford-row conspiracy-第5章

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the　tenderest　recollections　of　the　young　lady　with　whom　he　had　danced　at　the　Oldborough　ball；　and；　having　taken　particular　care　to　find　out　where　she　dwelt　when　in　the　metropolis；　managed　soon　to　become　acquainted　with　Aunt　Biggs；　and　made　himself　so　amiable　to　that　lady；　that　she　begged　he　would　pass　all　his　disengaged　evenings　at　her　lodgings　in　Caroline　Place。　　Mrs。　Biggs　was　perfectly　aware　that　the　young　gentleman　did　not　come　for　her　bohea　and　muffins；　so　much　as　for　the　sweeter　conversation　of　her　niece；　Miss　Gorgon；　but　seeing　that　these　two　young　people　were　of　an　age　when　ideas　of　love　and　marriage　will　spring　up；　do　what　you　will；　seeing　that　her　niece　had　a　fortune；　and　Mr。　Perkins　had　the　prospect　of　a　place；　and　was　moreover　a　very　amiable　and　well…disposed　young　fellow；　she　thought　her　niece　could　not　do　better　than　marry　him；　and　Miss　Gorgon　thought　so　too。　　Now　the　public　will　be　able　to　understand　the　meaning　of　that　important　conversation　which　is　recorded　at　the　very　commencement　of　this　history。　Lady　Gorgon　and　her　family　were　likewise　in　town；　but；　when　in　the　metropolis；　they　never　took　notice　of　their　relative；　Miss　Lucy：　the　idea　of　acknowledging　an　ex…schoolmistress　living　in　Mecklenburgh　Square　being　much　too　preposterous　for　a　person　of　my　Lady　Gorgon's　breeding　and　fashion。　　She　did　not；　therefore；　know　of　the　progress　which　sly　Perkins　was　making　all　this　while；　for　Lucy　Gorgon　did　not　think　it　was　at　all　necessary　to　inform　her　Ladyship　how　deeply　she　was　smitten　by　the　wicked　young　gentleman　who　had　made　all　the　disturbance　at　the　Oldborough　ball。　The　intimacy　of　these　young　persons　had；　in　fact；　become　so　close；　that　on　a　certain　sunshiny　Sunday　in　December；　after　having　accompanied　Aunt　Biggs　to　church；　they　had　pursued　their　walk　as　far　as　that　rendezvous　of　lovers；　the　Regent's　Park；　and　were　talking　of　their　coming　marriage；　with　much　confidential　tenderness；　before　the　bears　in　the　Zoological　Gardens。　Miss　Lucy　was　ever　and　anon　feeding　those　interesting　animals　with　buns；　to　perform　which　act　of　charity　she　had　clambered　up　on　the　parapet　which　surrounds　their　den。　　Mr。　Perkins　was　below；　and　Miss　Lucy；　having　distributed　her　buns；　was　on　the　point　of　following；but　whether　from　timidity；　or　whether　from　a　desire　to　do　young　Perkins　an　essential　service；　I　know　not：　　however；　she　found　herself　quite　unwilling　to　jump　down　unaided。　〃My　dearest　John；〃　said　she；　〃I　never　can　jump　that。〃　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；　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。

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　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　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　dayand　therefore　it　was　that　General　Gorgon　read　prayers　to　his　family　at　home　in　the　morning。　Perkins；　at　last；　saw　that　little　General；　in　blue　frock…coat　and　spotless　buff　gloves；　saunter　scowling　home；　and　half　an　hour　before　his　arrival　had　witnessed　the　entrance　of　Jerningham；　and　the　three　gaunt　Miss　Gorgons；　poodle；　son…and…heir；　and　French　governess；　protected　by　him；　into　Sir　George's　mansion。　〃Can　she　be　going　to　stay　all　night？〃　mused　poor　John；　after　being　on　the　watch　for　three　hours：　　when　presently；　to　his　inexpressible　delight；　he　saw　a　very　dirty　hackney…coach　clatter　up　to　the　Gorgon　door；　out　of　which　first　issued　the　ruby　plush　breeches　and　stalwart　calves　of　Mr。　Jerningham；　these　were　followed　by　his　body；　and　then　the　gentleman；　ringing　modestly；　was　admitted。　Again　the　door　opened：　　a　lady　came　out；　nor　was　she　followed　by　the　footman；　who　crossed　his　legs　at　the　door…post　and　allowed　her　to　mount　the　jingling　vehicle　as　best　she　might。　　Mr。　Jerningham　had　witnessed　the　scene　in　the　Park　Gardens；　had　listened　to　the　altercation　through　the　library　keyhole；　and　had　been　mighty　sulky　at　being　ordered　to　call　a　coach　for　this　young　woman。　　He　did　not　therefore　deign　to　assist　her　to　mount。　But　there　was　ONE　who　did！　　Perkins　was　by　the　side　of　his　Lucy：　　he　had　seen　her　start　back　and　cry；　〃La；　John！〃had　felt　her　squeeze　his　armhad　mounted　with　her　into　the　coach；　and　then　shouted　with　a　voice　of　thunder　to　the　coachman；　〃Caroline　Place；　Mecklenburgh　Square。〃　But　Mr。　Jerningham　would　have　been　much　more　surprised　and　puzzled　if　he　had　waited　one　minute　longer；　and　seen　this　Mr。　Perkins；　who　had　so　gallantly　escaladed　the