Eveline

'What would I do? Well, if I found my husband was no husband to me, but had deceived me into thinking him a man, I'd get one in his place. That's what I'd do! So should you, my lady!'

She hobbled up close to me in her excitement. Her volubility seemed to carry her away. She laid her hands caressingly upon my knees. She brought her face closer. She felt more confident-she grew bolder as she saw me smile. I laid my hand softly on hers. She was about to speak again. I motioned her to remain silent.

'I will not disguise it from you. I do not attempt to deny my great disappointment. That which you related to me on the occasion of my first coming here, Mrs. Hodge, made a great impression on me. I am young. As you say, I am in perfect health. You are a woman and you know what a woman's nature is. There should be no reason on my part why I am childless.'

'No, I am sure of it, my lady. I know the cause. It is no fault of yours-why should you continue so? I should not be content in your place.'

My blood rose to my face; my eyes flashed, I half rose. The good woman recoiled, half frightened. I was in very earnest now.

'I will not be childless if it depends upon me to prevent it!'

I clenched my hands. I stamped my foot imperiously-my breath came short and angrily. Mrs. Hodge clasped her hands together as she knelt.

'Oh, bless your ladyship for that! Now you speak like the great lady you are. Keep to that! Oh! Keep to that, my lady, and-and try my Jock!'

Chapter 7

The night came and also my lord. After a long drive across the country we had dined, or rather supped, about half past nine. The champagne had done its work with my husband who was sufficiently lively. As for myself, I was too careful of the part I had to play to allow myself a liberty with the exhilarating beverage. I pass by all the details of that unpalatable nuptial couch. Suffice it to say my wiles succeeded in affording him a complete enjoyment of his marital privileges while my precautions rendered it perfectly impossible any consequences, such as he hoped for, could follow. The Earl left my bed charmed with my warmth and vivacity. He was equally proud of himself and of his virility.

I cannot say I shared his sentiments. His weak and languid attempts had only succeeded by my assistance, but they were sufficient to convince him of his prowess in the lists of love. The night passed for me almost without sleep. I was restless, excited, and uneasy.

The evening following we had arranged a dinner party. It was a hunting reunion. Only gentlemen were invited. I retired early. I left the men enjoying themselves over their wine and cigars. I had been the only lady present. No doubt my absence was the signal for the real revelry to commence. I retired to my chamber pleading fatigue to my maid and, having dismissed her, locked myself in for the night.

My bedroom was upon the ground floor. Three long windows opened upon a wide veranda. One had only to step out to enjoy the scent of the roses. My object in doing so on this occasion was different. Just as the clock struck nine, I stood outside upon the tessellated pavement. Someone was crouching in the shadow of the wall. A whispered word, a cautions footfall on the lawn-I was by the side of Mrs. Hodge. I wrapped my long cloak around me closely. I drew over the hood. Silently I followed her across the dark lawn through the shrubbery, along the shadowy footpath under the double row of stately elms which bordered the avenue. Not a soul stirred here after dark, save only coming or departing guests. We kept on together in the deep shade of the spreading foliage. We reached the lodge in silence. I followed my conductress through the portal. She shut and barred the door.

A dim light was shed by a small lamp upon the table. Mrs. Hodge took me by the hand. She led me forward. We passed into the room on the right. I stood beside the bed. All had been arranged. I slipped off my cloak-my skirts. I stood in my chemise de nuit.

I had anticipated the adventure with eagerness. Every detail had been planned beforehand with scrupulous precision. My feelings were intensely excited. A restless longing for the embrace of a strong man had troubled my thoughts all day. I had been roused by the faint efforts to which I had submitted the previous night. I determined to surrender myself without reserve, at least on this occasion. The stake was immense; the game was well worth playing. No gambler ever felt more enthusiasm as he staked his pile upon a single chance. I had brought all my wits to bear. There is an enormous power for good or bad in a strong will. I devoted mine with all my naturally strong energy to this object. The second title had too long lain dormant. There were the three sisters all secretly plotting- jealous of me from the first, and the dissolute cousin to whom the usurers were becoming more accommodating as time rolled on and brought no news to lessen his pretensions to the succession. Last, and by no means least, there was my natural womanly pride, the instinct of maternity unsatisfied- the galling feeling that I-Eveline-would eventually be supplanted in the enjoyment of the property for which I had risked so much-the jointure of the Countess of Endover.

Mrs. Hodge put her finger to her lips-she held the bedclothes open-I slipped backward into the feather bed. Two strong arms entwined themselves around my slender middle. They drew me down into contact with a man's hirsute body. I felt alarmed in spite of my resolution.

'Oh, Mrs. Hodge! Pray do not leave me-oh, pray!'

'Hush! Hush-be silent-he's a lamb, that he is sometimes!'

I noticed the change in her intonation-the respectful distance, the conventional modes of address were gone. This was also part of the comedy.

A rush of hot desire passed through my nervous system as I felt the warmth and solidity of the male who held me. That it was a male there was not the slightest doubt. My back-my buttocks rested against his belly and thighs. Already his parts protruded viciously. His instruments began to assert its virility. I interposed my hand-'Oh?'

Mrs. Hodge was still beside the bed. I could just see her outline in the darkened room. She held my left hand. My right encountered a monstrous limb. My hand mechanically closed upon this object. It responded to my exciting caress. I felt a bush of curly hair-a muscular pair of thighs. I remained thus a few minutes-not a sound was heard. Then the right arm which had held me was softly unlaced. A large hand inspected my charms. My bosom-my belly-my mount, and, lastly, the central spot of man's desires. If my assailant's passion had been already roused, my own responded to it. A sudden movement served to turn me on my back. At the same moment, Mrs. Hodge assisted by a rapid jerk of my left arm. I raised my right to protect myself in a half-real, half-feigned effort of modesty. Immediately my bedfellow was upon me. In dragging me towards him downwards, my chemise had been turned up. My body lay naked to his attack. He was not slow to take advantage of the position. The fortress lay open. He had only to march through the portal.

'Oh, Mrs. Hodge! I-do not let him-pray-oh! Oh!'

There was no response from the good woman who had not released my hand. Instantly I was helplessly extended beneath the weight of a man's naked body.

Under such circumstances a woman never complains of the inconvenient pressure. It is true that the elbows of the operator take on themselves a certain part of the load. For all that, the position appears to be the normal one. It is certainly the best-the one peculiarly adapted for the exchange and enjoyment of those emotions which accompany the act of copulation-those tender emanations of passion stimulated and excited to an almost insupportable strain-those outbursts of intense ecstasy which are wrung from the yielding female form vibrating beneath the efforts of a vigorous male.

I had seen Jock on several occasions when visiting the lodge. Usually he made himself scarce by slipping shyly away by the back door. I had rarely, however, exchanged more than a simple salutation with him. He struck me as a particularly fine young man whose physiognomy displayed more intellectuality than fell to the lot of the rustics around. His wife took pleasure in repeating her commendation of his intelligence, his industry, and his constant endeavors to instruct himself in the principles and practice of agriculture. He became thus an object of interest to me, particularly after the extraordinary invitation the simple woman had extended to me. In short, I had made my observations. I had matured my decision.

If ever I was in a condition, after my forced abstinence, to fulfill the requirements of perfected copulation, to relish the joys and participate in the animal pleasure of the act, it was now. My feelings were worked up to frenzy. I