Eveline

was unable to move and apparently faint, he promptly applied his handkerchief, even before I could find mine.

'My darling Eveline-you have indeed suffered! You have bled, my child, my kerchief is stained with blood.'

'Cruel Papa! But I love you.'

Sir Edward opened a door-a dressing room with toilet arrangements was disclosed. He led me there.

'Quick, Eveline, wash well and with cold water. Here, put a few drops of this brandy in the basin. My darling, be sure you are thorough in your present petite toilette.'

In a few minutes I felt myself again. The thing was done. I had gained my end. My theories were correct; nothing could ever equal the pleasure he had given me.

We sat together on the sofa, our hands linked, his arm round my waist.

He looked at the clock. It was yet early.

'We came away from the Opera in good time, we need not hurry. I want to enjoy my sweet Eveline again. Does she regret what we have done?'

'No, Papa. Great men are excused faults which in ordinary people are crimes. In my eyes you are a great man. You remember that Charlemagne enjoyed two of his own daughters? He was only a great soldier like my papa.'

'Yes, indeed, but how did you come to know that?'

'I read it in Voltaire-when I was in Paris.'

'But how come they let you read Voltaire at school?'

'Oh, with a little of one's pocket money there is no difficulty in getting the concierge to do one so trifling a favor as to buy a book. I had four little volumes from him which he bought for me expressly and kept in his lodge. I had a great fancy to read Voltaire's account of Charlemagne. Was it wrong to do so, Papa?'

'No, my child-only you seem to have run a risk of being detected.'

'There is no pleasure without risk. Are you intoxicated already with yours, dear Papa?'

'No, my darling Eveline, let us have more. Let us do it again!'

I put my hand on his limb. He released it for me to caress. It rose stiffly under my touches. It regained all its grand dimensions. I bent down my head and kissed it. I opened my lips, took the big knob into my mouth and sucked it. It was delicious. Papa groaned with rapture.

I pretended a lack of expertise, which prompted a fury in him I had never seen but soon fancied. He shoved my head down and thrust himself deeper. I took it all. We were mutually excited. He took me in his arms. He laid me again upon the sofa, raised my clothes and lay again on my body. My slit needed no coaxing. He entered my parts and had me again deliciously. He discharged copiously. I sucked in every drop of his sperm. I could have screamed with the pleasure, had I dared.

A little later we descended to the private entrance of the restaurant. Papa called the cab which stood opposite. As he closed the doors of the hansom, I recognized the man with the hare-lip.

BOOK TWO Chapter 1

Papa is absent fishing about Maidenhead somewhere. He loves the art. As far as I can see he never catches anything. Lady L is taking advantage of the opportunity as usual to go in for any extra quantity of champagne and soda. Sippett is, also as usual, assiduous of her mistress's interest regulated in diminutive proportion to her own. Mrs. Lockett is the only active person on the establishment and she is about to visit some friends at Croydon this afternoon. The carriage has gone to Kensington to meet Papa, and will not return till six p.m. It is now exactly ten minutes to five.

I was all alone. I was not 'at home' to callers. I was lazy and idle. There is an old saying about idle hands and the devil. I suppose that was why he prompted me. Or was it some lesser imp endowed with the power of knowing exactly what Eveline demanded? I had on my walking dress. I had just come in. No one had seen me, or heard me. I went out again and closed the door with my latchkey. I would go round myself and see how my horse was and give my orders myself for the morning. Possibly Jim would be there. I met no one in the mews. I entered our stable. My horse was comfortable in his stall. Jim was making the beds ready for the carriage horses on their return. 'Good afternoon, Jim. I see you look after my new horse well.'

'Yes, miss. But he must not have too much corn. He gets too frisky. He hasn't work enough. He's too fond of his play.'

'Is he indeed, Jim? I suppose there's lots of play round here. What was Mary playing with the other evening when she was here?' 'Mary, miss? Why-how do you know Mary was here, miss?'

'How do you know I am here now, Jim?'

''Cos I can see you myself, miss.'

'Well then, Jim, it is because I saw Mary.'

The young groom looked confused and rather silly. I put on my most childish air. My eye held his while a sort of fluttering smile beamed out on my rosy cheeks. I put my finger across my lips. I glanced half fearfully, half poutingly towards the door. Jim rested his fork against the manger and stood staring at me doubtfully.

'I hope, miss, you won't be hard on us. We were only having a little talk together. We might have had a minute's play to pass the time.'

'I know what she was playing with, Jim.'

Jim caught my expression. He was evidently alarmed and perplexed.

'Would you like to play with me a little, Jim?'

His face changed suddenly. It was if he had caught up his stage cue and could go on. My eye wandered again to the door.

'Oh, Miss Eveline-if you were only in earnest!'

'Lock the door, Jim.'

He went promptly and passed the bolt.

'You seemed to like Mary very much. Is she your sweetheart, Jim?'

'Lord, no, miss. I rather wish she wouldn't come slipping in here when I'm at work. I'm not over fond of her, I can tell you, miss. She'll be getting me into trouble with her tricks. I was only having a bit of fun with her.'

'Would you like to have a bit of fun with me, Jim?'

He had come back, and stood close to me.

'Oh, miss, that would not be for the likes of me! You are such a beautiful young lady-so thorough-bred. The servants all say you're an angel.'

His face flushed. He looked the image of doubt and timidity.

'You may play with me, if you like, Jim. I am only flesh and blood like Mary, but you must not kiss and tell.'

I extended my gloved hand. He caught it up, squeezed it, and kissed it.

We both listened. All was absolutely still at that hour. We were alone. My desire rose stronger and stronger.

'Is the door locked, Jim? Then kiss me!'

His eyes sparkled. I put up my face to his. He put his rough big hands around my waist. He drew me to him and covered my face with kisses. His confidence seemed to come back to him. He was no longer afraid to venture; in fact he showed evident symptoms of quickly rising passion. The young man was transformed. I watched with surprise the effects of my childish nonsense. His eyes glistened lewdly as he kissed me. His lips grew hot and shot his warm sweet breath in my face. I grew excited as I noted the result of my indulgence. There is no pleasure for a woman equal to the delight of witnessing the sexual transports of which she is the cause. He put his hands on my bosom. He pressed me rapturously in his arms. I felt a hard thing against my belly.

'Oh, Jim! How rough and strong you are! You must not do that!'

I put down my right hand. It encountered his limb, over which the thin breeches he wore were tightly stretched. I could see the nut bulge against the coarse material.