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 aren'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
stock--in short, the sun did not shine at that moment upon a man who
looked so exquisitely foolish.

"Miss Lucy Gorgon, is your aunt--is 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 M