Miss Perry rose for that purpose.
“Sit down, you Goose,” Jim commanded her. “Don’t speak a word about it to anybody, unless you want to get me sacked from the house. I am here on sufferance, a poor painting chap, copying a picture to get bread and cheese; and this ball to-night is being given by the Countess of Crewkerne, for her niece Miss Perry.”
“But, Jim——”
“Goose Girl,” said Jim, “keep Mouth Piece immovable. Move not the Chin Piece, the Young Man said. Think of cream buns.”
“But, Jim——” said Miss Perry.
CHAPTER XIII
HIGH REVEL IS HELD IN HILL STREET
ALL the same, Miss Perry did not dance twice with Jim Lascelles that evening. For Jim took his mother to the Theatre Royal, at Brixton, to witness a performance of that excellent old-world comedy, “She Stoops to Conquer.”
He did not appear to enjoy it much. He hardly laughed once, and his mother remarked it.
“What is the matter, my son?” said she. It ought to be stated that Jim’s mother was absurdly young to occupy the maternal relation to a great hulking fellow like Jim.
“There is a ridiculous girl in my head,” said he, “who is above me in station.”