the bedford-row conspiracy(百得福特娄阴谋)-第6部分
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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 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
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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 sheepish
very 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
