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Lupex, dropping the hand of the elderly lady whom he reverenced, was upon him in an instant, and Cradell was shaking beneath his grasp like an aspen leaf, or rather not like an aspen leaf, unless an aspen leaf when shaken is to be seen with its eyes shut, its mouth open, and its tongue hanging out.
It must not be supposed that Amelia intended to abandon the fight, and allow the enemy to walk off with his forces; but she felt herself constrained to treat him with a deference that was hardly compatible with the perfect equality which should attend any union of hearts. "It is such a privilege to be on visiting terms with the nobility," said Mrs Lupex.
The intrigue might in that way become more mysterious, and more life-enveloping; whereas it would not become more dangerous, seeing that Mr Lupex could hardly find himself to be aggrieved by such a proceeding. The whole number of Mrs Roper's boarders were assembled at dinner that day.
She had just seated herself between Mrs Lupex and Miss Spruce, ready to do battle with the former because she would stay, and with the latter because she would go, when she was called out by the servant girl. "Miss Mealyer, Miss Mealyer, sh-sh-sh!" And Amelia, looking round, saw a large red hand beckoning to her.
Then Mr Lupex entered the room, and the pleasantness of the party was destroyed. It may be said that neither Mrs Cradell nor Mrs Eames would have placed their sons in Burton Crescent if they had known the dangers into which the young men would fall. Each, it must be acknowledged, was imprudent; but each clearly saw the imprudence of the other.
"But is love to go for nothing?" said Cradell. "Oh, love! I don't believe in love. I suppose I thought I loved once, but what did it come to after all? Now, there's Mr Eames we all know he's in love." "It comes natural to me, Mrs Lupex. I was born so," said Johnny. "And there's Miss Roper one never ought to speak free about a lady, but perhaps she's in love too."
"Yes; Mrs Roper is respectable, Mr Eames; but there are some here that Hush-sh-sh!" And the old lady put her finger up to her lips. The door opened and Mrs Lupex swam into the room. "How d'ye do, Miss Spruce? I declare you're always first. It's to get a chance of having one of the young gentlemen to yourself, I believe. What's the news in the city to-day, Mr Eames?
In the present instance the police were not called in, and I am inclined to think that their presence would not have been advantageous to any of the party. "Upon my honour I know nothing about her," were the first words which Cradell was able to articulate, when Lupex, under Eames's persuasion, at last relaxed his hold. Lupex turned round to Miss Spruce with a sardonic grin.
"An unmarried man like Mr Cradell has no business to know whether a married lady wears a cap or her own hair has he, Mr Eames?" "I don't think I ever know," said Johnny, not intending any sarcasm on Mrs Lupex. "I dare say not, sir," said the lady. "We all know where your attention is riveted.
There are some confidences which a man does not share even with his dearest friend. "I rather fancy it's quite the other way," said Eames. "How the other way?" "That Lupex has quite as much as he likes of Mrs L. The sound of her voice sometimes makes me shake in my shoes, I know." "I like a woman with spirit," said Cradell. "Oh, so do I. But one may have too much of a good thing.
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