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returned to town； the latter to his garrets in Bedford Row the former to
his apartments on the first floor of the same house。 He lived here to
superintend his legal business： his London agents； Messrs。 Higgs； Biggs；
and Blatherwick； occupying the ground floor； the junior partner； Mr。
Gustavus Blatherwick； the second flat of the house。 Scully made no
secret of his profession or residence： he was an attorney； and proud of it；
he was the grandson of a labourer； and thanked God for it； he had made
his fortune by his own honest labour； and why should he be ashamed of it？
And now； having explained at full length who the several heroes and
heroines of this history were； and how they conducted themselves in the
country； let us describe their behaviour in London； and the great events
which occurred there。
You must know that Mr。 Perkins bore away 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。
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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；
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THE BEDFORD…ROW CONSPIRACY
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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THE BEDFORD…ROW CONSPIRACY
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 e