Eveline

Oh! Dear! It will never go in! Oh! Ah! Oh! Oh! You hurt-you're right into me!'

He had already penetrated. He forced the huge thing into me till he seemed to be right up my womb. He uttered no words. He only breathed hard and pushed me upwards in his strong excitement. Then his head fell on my shoulder. I knew he was spending. He emitted in short spasmodic jerks. Like his friend, he made haste to escape.

Before he could reclose the door, I heard the flick of a whip. A new and very gruff voice exclaimed:

''Ere, I say! What the 'ell are you fellers about? I'm agoin' to get down. The old box is a-shakin' about that hawful, I can't 'old the bloody horses!'

Just then I heard a scramble. The policeman rushed across the road. The footman got up beside the coachman. The carriage was turned rapidly round and then went slowly back towards No.. I adjusted myself as well as I could. I pulled my large opera cloak over my head and was set down once more. I passed hastily in and gained the ladies' retiring room. I found myself alone. The wild strains of a lovely waltz were filling the air. I repaired damages and changed my gloves.

'Oh, my dear Eveline, I have been looking for you!'

'Poor papa! I had a headache, but it is better now. Have you been making a night of it? I have enjoyed myself thoroughly. Take me home now-I have danced enough!'

Chapter 6

Dr. Brooksted-Hoare was a dapper little man. He came of a medical family. His father had commenced life as assistant to an apothecary and subsequently practiced as such himself. The doctor's curly brown hair, already tinged with gray, was crisply arranged round his small and shapely head. His finely cut features presented nothing in their repose which betrayed his exalted opinion of his own powers or person. When he spoke, however, his animation increased imperceptibly. His mode of expression was adapted to the circumstances of the case. He was obsequiousness itself to the wealthy and the noble-short and terribly decisive to the meek and lowly. He emphasized his opinion with a sort of professional superiority which contrasted quaintly with the careless garrulity of his ordinary conversation. His self-conceit was enormous, and, although a valuable adjunct in his pose before his patients, it raised a sort of hilarious resentment among his professional confreres, who saw through it. Dr. Brooksted-Hoare possessed a large practice as a specialist for the treatment of women and children. He was altogether a professional pet of society in his especial department. His fees were immense, but only commensurate with his consummate self-complacency. He delighted to talk of the duchesses and notables whom he counted among his patients. The pains and sufferings of Royalty were all subservient to his skill. If his communications concerning them were not always exactly correct, they at least served to extend his importance as a specialist.

'I have made a most careful examination in the case of-ahem! — her ladyship-the Countess of Endover-yes- aided by my friend Dr. Proctor here, who is, I believe, your usual family adviser-a most careful and thorough examination. I find-ahem-I find that there is no possible chance of her ladyship ever becoming a mother. A mother- ahem-in her present condition. I have, however, ascertained-ahem-quite beyond the possibility of a doubt, that a trifling-let us say-ahem-a very trivial operation-would remove this-this disability. There is a small ligament which interferes with the proper position of the organs relatively, which interrupts the- ahem-the natural sequence of events. I cannot very well demonstrate this to the lay mind, but Dr. Proctor and myself are in accord that it would be easily and safely removed. Our dear young Countess is in every other way so beautifully and-ahem-so perfectly formed that I have no doubt, if she were willing to submit to this, she would have no cause thereafter to disappoint her lord. Do I make myself clear? It is for her ladyship to decide-ahem.'

Here the little man stuck his hands under his coat tails as he balanced himself in front of the fire and reminded one strongly of a bantam cock which contemplated crowing.

Our own family doctor looked anxiously towards me. My husband and my papa looked at one another in mute astonishment.

'The necessities of the case would, of course, entail a little sacrifice of time and comfort on the part of her ladyship. There would be the usual antiseptics to administer, which Dr. Proctor would undertake of course-the slight operation to undergo-ahem-let us say, a week's rest, and all would be in order again.'

The Earl looked immensely relieved. He regarded me wistfully. Papa wore an expression of anxiety mingled with doubt. I put an end to the suspense.

'I am ready to undergo the operation as soon as the arrangements can be made. Tomorrow if you will; the sooner the better. I have made up my mind. I will take my chance.'

My husband actually shed tears of delight. He pressed my hand. The two doctors beamed graciously upon me. Papa hid his emotion behind a well-affected compliment on my courage. Dr. Brooksted- Hoare hastened to reply.

'Be it so-tomorrow at noon-ahem-I will be at your mansion. Oh, yes, I know the address. Leave all the arrangements to Dr. Proctor. He will, I know, have all in readiness.'

The little medico made an entry in his notebook. Then he pompously bowed us all out.

A vision of disappointed sisters, of a cousin remitted to his pothouses and his scum of society, and his little bills, flashed across my placid vision as I took my seat in the carriage, none the easier for the disturbances caused by the exhaustive examination I had undergone.

I had now two great reasons to be satisfied with the resolution I had formed. The earlier intimation I had received from my medical friend was proved without doubt to be correct. The operation, I was informed by both physicians, had been perfectly successful.

'Dr. Proctor says I may sit up today, papa, and I may have what I like in the way of diet.'

'I have sent for oysters, my dear Eveline, and Mrs. Lockett will send you up a roast grouse-also a custard pudding of her own especial make.'

'How kind of you! Today I shall fare like a queen; but oysters, you know, dear papa, are supposed to stimulate other nerves than those of mere digestion.'

'Yes, that is so. I believe I have felt the influence myself, especially when near my dear Eveline. No doubt they have a certain effect as an aphrodisiac. I believe it is on account of the large amount of phosphates they contain. Certain kinds of fish have the same result. The skate, that nutritious but much neglected flat fish, is one of them.'

I could not help smiling at the serious professional air he assumed while thus lecturing. I let him see a twinkle in my eyes.

'You mustn't eat oysters, and you mustn't eat skate then, dear papa, when you come near your little Eveline. She has made certain very wise resolutions and she intends to keep them.'

He drew a face of such abject dismay that I could not repress a little laugh at his expense.

'You are too cruel, Eveline, my dear child, but perhaps you act for the best. You have a will of your own which hitherto has always led you to avoid pitfalls.'

'I did not mean that I would be so terribly severe as altogether to exclude those delicacies from my dear papa's dietary-only that- only-you see, papa-well! We must be careful how we handle things now.'

'I have thought much on he same subject. I agree with you, my dear child.'

'At the same time, my Charlemagne is a great conqueror. He cannot be expected to go altogether without the reward of his victories.'

'I do not understand, my darling, quite what you mean.'

'I will try to explain myself, dear papa. When the Emperor Charlemagne first indulged in the luxury of a debauch with his young daughters, you may be sure he was not long in arriving at a complete enjoyment of their charms. Then came a time when the pleasures of dalliance succeeded to the hot lust of passionate desire. No doubt those dutiful recipients of the great man's favors were early indoctrinated in all those auxiliary delights which go to make up the full pleasure of sensual gratification. Do you follow me, dear papa?'

He nodded, drew his chair closer to my bed, and I saw my opportunity. I was not slow to take advantage of it. I only dreaded his terrible disappointment.

'We must be careful. I have fully determined there shall be a direct heir to the Earldom of Endover. I believe