A.S.M. Hutchinson

Once Aboard the Lugger: The History of George and His Mary

1908. Hodder & Stoughton, 1924.

In Regent's Park he saw her produce a brilliant pair of scarlet worsted reins, gay with bells; heard her hiss like any proper groom as tandem-wise she harnessed David and Angela, those restive steeds. The equipage was about to start - she had cracked her whip, clicked her tongue - when with thumping heart, with face that matched the flaming reins, hat in hand he approached

George has been smitten by Mary since their first encounter, when her hansom cab had stopped abruptly and she was thrown into his arms. The next day, keeping a discreet watch outside the house in St. John's Wood where she works as a 'mother's help', he has followed her and the two children to the park.

George said they were fine horses; felt legs; offered to buy them. His words purchased their hearts, which were more valuable. After the drive they would return to the stable, which was this seat, Mary told him; she could not stay to speak to him any longer. George declared he was the stable groom and would wait. Away they dashed at handsome speed, right round the inner circle; returned more sedately, a little out of breath. There had been, moreover, an accident: leader, it appeared, had fallen and cut his knees. "I shied at a motor," David explained, proud of the red blood now that the agony was past

Further meetings in the park follow, in which George proposes and is accepted; George thrashes a cad who has been forcing his attentions on Mary; and the couple decide that Mary must leave her job, since the cad was the son of her employer.