Eveline

them. I loved you better than any of the girls I met. None of them were a bit like you. When papa sent me your photo after you left school, I was told all round it was too beautiful to be true to life. They all said the photographer had touched it up-especially the women. Now I know that no photographer could produce so exquisite a picture as would give a just idea of the original. You have grown a splendid girl, Eve. Do you remember I used to call you 'Eve'?'

'Yes, and I used to call you Adam. But we must forget those times now, Percy.'

'Why should I forget? Just when you are ten thousand times more winsome and lovely? Because I am a man with a man's strong passions? Eve, dear Eve, I am not likely to forget our frolics. I mean to renew them with you, I mean to repeat-'

'Oh, Percy-you must not talk like that! You must not refer to our old associations.'

I laughed-I could not help it. In that laugh he saw the hollowness of my reserve. He became more confident-more passionate. He began in earnest to make love to me. He nestled close, put his arm round my waist and held the reins with the other hand.

'Percy! Percy! The horses will play tricks! For goodness' sake let go, and drive properly.'

'Well, kiss me then, Eve-then I will.'

I put my face up to his. I kissed him on the lips. He held me close.

'I was only a boy then, Eve, I am a man now. I only half had you in those days. I mean to have you in earnest now.'

'Oh! Percy-if anybody were to hear you.'

'The hood is up sufficiently to keep all to ourselves. He can neither hear nor see over it, and the noise prevents all chance.'

'Percy, you frighten me. We cannot be too careful.'

'Trust to me for that. I am caution itself. We will play at Adam and Eve once more. I cannot let you marry and go without having tasted a real man, little Eve. Do you agree, my beautiful one?'

'Oh, Percy, you are too bad; you are exciting me shockingly!'

'Do you hear, my sweet? We began early. We are going to complete the thing now. Oh, Eve! My blood boils-I long to begin!'

'Hush, Percy! Pray be careful!'

'If you knew how I long for you! How I pant to snatch off that pretty bodice and let loose those well-blown breasts. I want to kiss them, Eve. I want to riot in kisses all over your beautiful body. How red your cheeks are, my charming Eve. You know you are as bad as I am. You want to play again with Adam. I know you do.'

I cannot repeat all the bold and lecherous things he whispered to me on the way. We arrived at Lewes all too soon for my part. Percy drove to the best hotel. We descended and entered. He ordered lunch in a private room. It all passed pleasantly. He had the good sense to calm himself, but I made no scruple in allowing him to see that my inclination was as strong as his own.

We drove home to Eastbourne by Polegate. The air came fresher than even over the South Downs. I nestled under the furs. Percy drove carefully. We had the hood quite up now. He was warm with the lunch and the wine. I shared his exaltation. A very little coaxing on his part induced me to keep my hand under the warm wraps upon his left thigh as he held the reins. I think a tailor must be an artist by birth. He always seems intuitively to understand that a gentleman's 'unspeakables' must be cut much more commodiously on the left thigh than on the right. No doubt they take their measures, but as their absurd tape can hardly be supposed to produce the same effect as the delicate fingers of Eveline, I am at a loss to know how, unless they are as I suggest, artist by intuition, they can allow such gigantic inflammation as took place in that region on the present occasion. In fact, this tailor had not done his work at all as he would no doubt have done, had he only had the foresight to have employed his young daughter to take the gentleman's measure 'up to the crotch.' In any case, I was obliged to make more room for the increasing growth under my hand. I opened a couple of buttons; another flew off all by itself-my fingers closed on his stiff limb.

'Oh, Percy! What a dreadful thing! Why it's more than twice the size it used to be.'

'I believe it is, Eve; your little hand is making me furiously lustful.'

I could not keep up even a semblance of propriety. With him I subsided into the position of the little sister of old. With others it was different. I had a reserve to maintain, a presence to be insisted upon- a certain imperative necessity for prudence and forethought. With Percy I felt myself free from all restraint. I took up the position as of old. It saved my modesty, or what answered for it: my awkwardness and nervous apprehension of inspiring any other sentiment than desire.

I nestled close down to him. The sweet odor of his manhood pervaded my nostrils-stole over my senses with irresistible impulse. I even furtively sucked my fingers when I could find a decent excuse for relaxing my grasp. He had certainly realized my hopes and expectations. The volume of his limb was undoubtedly doubled since the time when we made our pleasant investigations into the mysteries of the sexes.

'No, Eveline, you will never die an old maid. You are too wise, and you know too much for that. At the same time, my little Eve, you cannot make me believe you have not found, in all this time, a serpent to tempt you, though I really do think it might require a pair of apples to do that. Tell me-was it before you left school? Who was the lucky reptile? A music-master? A youth of subtle insinuations? A man-or a snake?

'How can you talk such nonsense, Percy? You are really too bad!'

'But I am right, little Eve. A girl of your temperament could not resist if she tried. I am not in the least jealous, you may be sure, dear girl, nor do I blame you for following a purely animal instinct. We men all do it, then why not the girls? Confess then, little Eve.'

'It was not a serpent, and it was not an apple; nor even two apples, Percy, and I don't see why I should satisfy your inordinate and most improper curiosity even if I had anything to confess.'

'Well, at any rate, the devil that tempted you had the best catch he ever made in the whole course of his administration. You must be a treat for the gods, and much too good for imps of the other persuasion.'

'For shame, Percy! But tell me if you are serious. This wicked thing feels anxious to try its luck.'

'Serious? Of course I am serious! I mean to have you, Eve dear. It will be no joke now. I am a man, and a strong man too. We will take all necessary precautions-but have you I must, and before we are many hours older.'

'Well, Percy, what must be, must. But I hope you will be very prudent-very quiet and very cautious. You take matters too easily. You do not seem to see the risk we may run.'

'Do I not though, my Eve? Indeed I do! Remember the more risk we run to obtain what we want, the sweeter is its possession. There is only one consideration which can make it sweeter.'

'What is that, Percy?'

'The fact that it is dreadfully 'improper.' Therefore it is dreadfully nice. It is the extreme limit of the principle 'naughty but nice'-the very essence of it carried to its fullest excess. Therefore it will be divinely nice!'

'Oh, Percy! You make me horribly agitated. I already wish it was night.'

'Why night, my sweet Eve?'

'Because I want you, Percy. Because I have a plan. Your room adjoins mine. I thought of that when we set out the apartments in the hotel. There is a door of communication from your chamber to mine. I have had portiers put up on both sides. Also across my door is the corridor. I hate these hotel doors of communication, you know, Percy. Do you not see I have only to turn my key and you are in my room. I will oil the lock, the key and the hinges.'

'What a cultivated Eve! By Jove, you have well thought of all. Did you also provide a garland of fig leaves?'

'No, Adam, we haven't fallen yet. You might prefer me in my pristine innocence. I am worth a study.'

'Good day, Mr. David Jones. Your boat does not look as if it has been launched today.'

'So, miss-no more she ain't. I ain't got the strength of the young 'uns. My son's been telegraphed for to go back to Lunnon.'

'What! Left you already! How is that?'

'Why, miss, yer see the owners of his ship-the one as he come 'ome aboard of-offered him a berth as third mate. He's gone up to Lunnon to school in the Minories and get book larnin' to pass the Board o' Trade. He'll do it, miss, no fear. He's a sure hand to push 'isself in anywhere, and he's strong and steady too.'

'Yes, Mr. Jones, I am sure he's all that. What is the name of his ship?'