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 hackney…coach； step out of it with the most mortified； miserable； chap…fallen countenance possible。 The fact is； he had found poor Lucy sobbing fit to break her heart； and instead of consoling her； as he expected； he only seemed to irritate her further： for she said； 〃Mr。 PerkinsI begI insist； that you leave the carriage。〃 And when Perkins made some movement （which； not being in the vehicle at the time； we have never been able to comprehend）； she suddenly sprang from the back…seat and began pulling at a large piece of cord which communicated with the wrist of the gentleman driving； and； screaming to him at the top of her voice； bade him immediately stop。 This Mr。 Coachman did； with a curious； puzzled； grinning air。 Perkins descended； and on being asked； 〃Vere ham I to drive the young 'oman； sir？〃 I am sorry to say muttered something like an oath； and uttered the above…mentioned words； 〃Caroline Place； Mecklenburgh Square；〃 in a tone which I should be inclined to describe as both dogged and sheepishvery different from that cheery voice which he had used when he first gave the order。 Poor Lucy； in the course of those fatal three hours which had passed while Mr。 Perkins was pacing up and down Baker Street； had received a lecture which lasted exactly one hundred and eighty minutesfrom her aunt first； then from her uncle； whom we have seen marching homewards； and often from both together。 Sir George Gorgon and his lady poured out such a flood of advice and abuse against the poor girl； that she came away from the interview quite timid and cowering； and when she saw John Perkins （the sly rogue！ how well he thought he had managed the trick！） she shrank from him as if he had been a demon of wickedness； ordered him out of the carriage； and went home by herself； convinced that she had committed some tremendous sin。 While； then； her coach jingled away to Caroline Place； Perkins； once more alone； bent his steps in the same direction。 A desperate； heart…stricken man； he passed by the beloved's door； saw lights in the front drawing…room； felt probably that she was there； but he could not go in。 Moodily he paced down Doughty Street； and turning abruptly into Bedford Row； rushed into his own chambers； where Mrs。 Snooks； the laundress； had prepared his humble Sabbath meal。 A cheerful fire blazed in his garret； and Mrs。 Snooks had prepared for him the favourite blade…bone he loved （blest four…days' dinner for a bachelorroast； cold； hashed； grilled bladebone； the fourth being better than the first）； but although he usually did rejoice in this mealordinarily； indeed； grumbling that there was not enough to satisfy himhe； on this occasion； after two mouthfuls； flung down his knife and fork； and buried his two claws in his hair。 〃Snooks；〃 said he at last； very moodily； 〃remove this d mutton； give me my writing things； and some hot brandy…and…water。〃 This was done without much alarm： for you must know that Perkins used to dabble in poetry； and ordinarily prepare himself for composition by this kind of stimulus。 He wrote hastily a few lines。 〃Snooks； put on your bonnet；〃 said he； 〃and carry thisYOU KNOW WHERE！〃 he added； in a hollow； heart…breaking tone of voice； that affected poor Snooks almost to tears。 She went； however； with the note； which was to this purpose： 〃Lucy！ Lucy！ my soul's lovewhat； what has happened？ I am writing this〃（a gulp of brandy…and…water）〃in a state bordering on distractionmadnessinsanity〃（another）。 〃Why did you send me out of the coach in that cruel cruel way？ Write to me a word； a line tell me； tell me； I may come to youand leave me not in this agonising condition； your faithful〃（glogglogglogthe whole glass） 〃J。P。〃 He never signed John Perkins in fullhe couldn't； it was so unromantic。 Well； this missive was despatched by Mrs。 Snooks； and Perkins； in a fearful state of excitement； haggard； wild； and with more brandy…and…water； awaited the return of his messenger。 When at length； after about an absence of forty years； as it seemed to him； the old lady returned with a large packet； Perkins seized it with a trembling hand； and was yet more frightened to see the handwriting of Mrs。 or Miss Biggs。 〃MY DEAR MR。 PERKINS；〃 she began〃Although I am not your soul's adored； I performed her part for once； since I have read your letter； as I told her。 You need not be very much alarmed； although Lucy is at this moment in bed and unwell： for the poor girl has had a sad scene at her grand uncle's house in Baker Street； and came home very much affected。 Rest； however； will restore her； for she is not one of your nervous sort； and I hope when you come in the morning； you will see her as blooming as she was when you went out to…day on that unlucky walk。 〃See what Sir George Gorgon says of us all！ You won't challenge him； I know； as he is to be your uncle； and so I may show you his letter。 〃Good…night； my dear John。 Do not go QUITE distracted before morning； and believe me your loving aunt； 〃JEMIMA BIGGS。〃
〃41 BAKER STR