in the library.
Caroline went out into the grounds in search of Freda, the younger girl having been up and about for some time.
Freda was engaged in watching the fish disporting themselves in the large lake. Perceiving Caroline approaching, she quickly ran to her and kissed her affectionately.
“Oh, Carrie, what were the screams that I heard last evening? Won't you tell me? Was it you who was screaming in the library? What made all the noise? I also heard some men talking; was someone else in there with uncle? Sit down, Carrie, and tell me all about it, won't you? There's a dear?”
“Freda!” reproved Caroline in a stem tone. “You know quite well you are not to manifest any curiosity at anything of what happened last night! As for me, I know nothing at all about it, anyway. Now, don't pester me anymore.”
Freda pouted, but held her peace. She secretly resolved to search out her uncle and try to worm out of him the details of the excitement of the previous evening. So, changing the subject, she remarked:
“Oh, Carrie, come with me. I have just had an idea for a good adventure. I just saw two of the handsomest boys going along the road out there; they had fishing poles on their shoulders and I bet they are going down the river to fish, so if you and I would just casually walk over there, we might strike up a flirtation with them and have no end of fun! They are awfully handsome boys!”
“No, Freda!” replied Caroline, rising to her feet. “You know quite well we shouldn't do anything of that kind while we are staying with uncle! Besides, you know uncle is saving you for himself; he wants to be the first one to give you experience in what you seem to consider so important.”
“Well, it must be important,” replied Freda. “You know yourself, Carrie, when uncle put his thing-his prick into you when we were in the sitting room, you looked like you were about to faint with pleasure and I am sure that if it affects you like that, that I will get as much pleasure out of the act as you seem to, even if I am younger.
“And besides, the girls at school talked about how much pleasure it is, and those that have had it done to them, that have been fucked, told me that the act almost sets them crazy with pleasure. I am just dying to do it; I can't understand why uncle, although he puts it into you so often, never puts it into me! Carrie, be a good sister; can't you use your persuasion to get him to do it to me; I am sure we would both enjoy it.”
“No, my dear, I will not be a party to your seduction; I can't prevent it but I am not going to assist in it. Your mind seems to be made up to achieve your own rain; I am not going to try to stop you, but so far as asking uncle to ravish you now, you may as well make up your mind I won't have any part in it.
“I warn you, my dear, you will live to regret the day you lost your virginity; you think when you are opened up by a man's tool you will enjoy all the ecstasy of Heaven, but I tell you frankly: if I still possessed my virginity; I would be the happiest girl in the world! If we are fortunate enough to get married, we are going to shed a lot of bitter tears at having lost our maidenheads.”
“Oh, bother marriage,” cried the irrepressible Freda. “Besides, what man has a right to expect a girl to be so pure; they certainly don't keep themselves any too pure for us women, do they?”
“Oh, no, I suppose not, my dear, but that is different; that seems to be a man's prerogative,” sighed Caroline. “Let's not discuss it any longer; I think I shall lie down here and try to snatch a little nap.” Reclining on the soft greensward, her senses began to leave her and she dozed. Suddenly she sensed that she was alone; sitting up, she spied the nimble Freda full tilt on her way toward the river.
“Freda!” she cried. “Come back here this minute; if you go down there by that river with those boys, I shall run and tell uncle immediately!”
“Oh, fudge,” replied Freda. “You are an old tattletale- but, Miss Smarty, if you tell uncle about me don't think I won't let him know about a certain Carl!” With a spiteful laugh, she started on a run toward the river.
Caroline, knowing that remonstrance was useless, rose to her feet and set out after the flying child. Arriving at the riverbank, she looked about and soon spied Freda crouched down behind a clump of bushes at the edge of the water.
“What are you doing?” cried Caroline.
“Oh, come quick. Look, look!” cried Freda, pointing to the middle of the river. “See, they are in swimming; they have all their clothes off. Their clothes are lying there on the bank, see?” cried the excited Freda.
Sure enough, glancing out to the middle of the stream, Caroline beheld two youths merrily disporting themselves in the cool water. Apparently tired of fishing, they had decided to go swimming instead and, thinking themselves unobserved, had taken to the water au naturel.
“Come away from here, young lady,” sharply remarked Caroline, although she herself was considerably moved by the sight of the handsome young men thus playing in the water; their leapings and friskings about occasionally gave the interested young ladies on the bank a sight of their pendent members, shrunken and shriveled as they were by the watery contact.
Caroline would brook no opposition by the stubborn Freda, but dragged her hence. “Suppose those boys should see us, silly?” she remarked. “Or suppose uncle or one of the servants would find us here, peeping at two naked boys! Why, we would be shamed to death! Let us go back to the garden immediately.” And dragging the reluctant Freda behind her, Caroline made her way back to the lake and sank down beside it on the grass.
As the two girls reclined on the green velvety lawn, they were approached by Montgomery, who had come into the garden for a breath of air. Caroline felt a blush mantling her cheeks as she remembered the incidents connected with her first meeting with the young man; a thrill shot through her as she thought of the length and thickness of his manly rod, now concealed beneath his clothing.
Approaching the two girls, he introduced himself, saying, “My name is Montgomery; I am Lord Roxboro's new valet and I presume you are his two lovely nieces.”
“We are,” replied Freda, in a matter-of-fact tone, although giving the prepossessing young man a close scrutiny, as in fact she did all men. “This is my sister, Caroline. We hope you like it here.”
“I was just walking about the grounds to familiarize myself with the place,” remarked Montgomery. “His lordship is asleep in the library and I have a few minutes time.”
“Perhaps you would like for us to walk around with you,” replied Caroline with an arch look.
“Oh,” replied he, “I am sure I would enjoy that immensely.”
Thereupon the three started out and made a tour of the grounds, Caroline carefully avoiding the river where the two boys were bathing.
In following out one of the paths, they came to the edge of the estate. Caroline, advancing to the edge of the depression, peered over, and Montgomery, as though fearing she might slip and fall over the edge, placed a restraining arm about her waist and pressed her to him as though to protect her from a fall.
Freda, all eyes, advanced to the very edge of the ravine and Montgomery, of course, encircled her slight waist with his other arm. The child leaned heavily against this protecting and comforting embrace, and Montgomery, drawing both of the girls back, cautioned them not to lean over such a depth.
“One slip,” he warned seriously, “and you would be dashed to the depths below! I am sure your uncle would be very vexed should he know in what manner you exercise your curiosity, and for your own safety I recommend that you observe the view from a safer vantage point.”
“Oh, bother uncle,” cried Freda crossly, now that the strong arm of the protecting male was removed from her body. “I am sure, Montgomery, that you will not be a tattletale and tell uncle what we are up to! I am sure if we want to do something, we can take care of ourselves!” and with this the minx gave Montgomery a rather roguish look.
“Oh, never fear,” replied Montgomery. “I am not going to tell your uncle on you; but this place is dangerous and surely there must be other points of interest which will stand inspection.”
Caroline remarked, “I understand there are some caves in the cliff below, which are full of stalactites and are said to be very beautiful; I should like very much to explore them, if it is possible. Uncle was telling me about them the other day.”
“Oh, fine!” cried Freda. “Let's do so immediately; we can climb down here and go and see the caves.”
Montgomery, however, vetoed the suggestion. “I fear you are too hasty, young lady. In the first place, your uncle probably wouldn't approve, and you are hardly dressed to go exploring caves. Furthermore, we should probably need some lights or candles as it isn't likely there would be enough light in the caves to see anything, so we will have to make some preparations and also gain your uncle's consent before we could make such an excursion.”