tete-a-tete she proceeded in the most unreserved manner to acquaint me with the history of her early life and present singular situation.'
Her father was a small fanner in Bedfordshire, and in consequence of her being an only child she had been reared with the most indulgent tenderness; as she advanced in years her extraordinary beauty became the theme of conversation in the surrounding neighbourhood. She had scarcely completed her fifteenth year when death deprived her of a doating mother; a few months after which Lady C-h, having occasion to call upon the farmer on some particular business, was so struck with the peculiar beauty of the blooming Delia that she immediately requested of her father that he would allow her to enter her ladyship's establishment in the quality of attendant upon her own person; the farmer, feeling himself almost alone in the world, considered the present opportunity a most favourable one as it might afford his daughter the means of providing for herself should she unfortunately be deprived of his protection, as she had already been of her tender mother's.
We may also pardon the vanity of a fond parent if, as he gazed upon his lovely child, now rapidly ripening into splendid womanhood, he entertained a momentary hope that her charms might ultimately procure her a husband from amongst the numerous slips of fashion who were so frequently in the habit of visiting at her ladyship's noble mansion; he therefore gratefully accepted the proffered kindness, and in a few days Delia was settled in her new abode in G-s-r Square.
Charmed by the novelty of her situation and constantly flattered by the compliments which her increasing loveliness daily extorted from the numerous dashing friends of her mistress, it is not surprising that she felt perfectly happy, and notwithstanding the offers of a certain nature which were privately tendered her, her virtue was superior to the temptation and she rejected them all with the utmost disdain.
She had been installed in her situation for about six months when Lord P-, the eldest son of her ladyship, arrived in town from the university where he had long been pursuing his studies to spend the vacation at the mansion of his illustrious ancestors. He was now in the eighteenth year of his age; the rich glow of manly beauty painted his healthy cheeks and his mind was well stored with every accomplishment which constitutes the perfect gentleman. He instantly became captivated by the all-conquering charms of our lovely lady's maid, and at every opportunity would he pour the most ardent professions of mighty love into her youthful ears, accompanied with many liberal offers of splendid settlement would she only consent to make him happy; but although not absolutely insensible to the perfections of the noble youth, yet as he never hinted or mentioned a word of marriage, and she well knew that if in the ardour of his protestations such an offer had ever escaped his lips it would have been neither prudent, or in fact possible for him to have realized such a promise, unless by destroying the high expectations of his family and thereby incurring their everlasting displeasure, she therefore with honest firmness rejected every offer and turned a deaf ear to his vows of love. At length, however, he became so very importunate that she was reduced to the necessity of threatening to acquaint his mother with his conduct in order to escape from his dangerous addresses.
This succeeded for a time in allaying the fury of his amorous fire and Delia once again believed herself secure. A few weeks passed, and the family having accepted an invitation to fulfil which they must for at least two days be absent from home, the butler determined to avail himself of the circumstance, and enjoy the society of his friends when Miss Delia was of course invited to join the party. The supper was a splendid one, and sparkling bumpers were afterwards circulated freely; in short, 'high life below stairs' was here performed to the letter, the principal characters by the parties themselves. Contrary to her usual custom, Delia suffered herself to be persuaded to take a few glasses of wine, but shortly after, feeling sensible of their effects, she wished the company goodnight, and repairing to her own apartment instantly retired to bed, and in a few moments her beautiful eyes were closed in sleep.
Fain would I draw the curtain of oblivion across the closing scene of this eventful night, but having pledged myself to a plain unvarnished statement of facts I will fulfill that promise to the utmost.
Whether the butler had been bribed to ply the intended victim to her master's lust with wine, or whether he had drugged it for his purpose, I cannot tell; nor will I attempt to describe the horrors of that victim's mind when suddenly she found herself fast locked in the lewd embrace of her young master!
She would have shrieked, but her voice was choked with the furious rapidity of his kisses; in vain she struggled; the advantage he had gained ere she was sensible of his vile design rendered her efforts ineffectual; with the impetuous rage of mad desire he pursued those advantages, and rudely removing every impediment that barred his road to bliss he revelled in delights the gods themselves might envy.
With the strong hand of brutal violence he plucked the fairest rose that ever bloomed on virtue's sacred tree; and while his victim lay supine, oppressed with fear and agony insupportable, robbed her of a treasure which the combined fortunes of his wealthy kindred could never more restore.
For a long time every attempt to calm her lacerated feelings was in vain; her convulsive sobbing seemed like to burst her troubled bosom, while the tears in one continuous stream rolled down her lovely cheeks, now glowing with a crimson blush of shame and indignation; he continued to implore forgiveness for his crime, urging the violence of his love in extenuation; he assured her of his eternal constancy and promised, should circumstances occur, of which he told her he had but
little doubt to render his ability equal to his desire, he would gladly repair the injury by making her his wife; he entreated her to consider the utter impossibility of recalling what had taken place and the folly of giving way to unavailing grief-by vows like these he at length succeeded in soothing the sorrows of the ruined fair one and finally, with her own consent, the intimacy was renewed.
And now all sense of shame, fear or anger was lost in the pleasures of the moment and as the young lord lay luxuriously between the legs of the little fifteen-year-old lady's maid, her innately passionate temperament came into play, and stripping herself entirely naked she strove by every means in her power to assist the passage of his long and aristocratically slender prickle as it pushed its delighted way into the rosy 'garden' and passed throbbing to the innermost recesses of her little young body.
Notwithstanding his every argument to the contrary, enforced by many burning references to the pleasures of their late encounter, she determined to leave the house without delay; and as shame prevented her from meeting any member of the family, she penned a letter to her mistress, giving as a reason for her sudden departure the illness of her father; and before the family returned she had removed to apartments taken for her by her seducer, who continued his visits of seeming affection for nearly six months, when after remaining in anxious expectations for three tedious days she received a letter containing a bank note for one hundred pounds and a statement that, having been compelled, in compliance with the wishes of his mother, to select the hand of a young lady, he had availed himself of the present method of bidding her an eternal farewell, advising her with the enclosed sum to endeavour to get into some way of business as he could not, consistently with honour to his intended bride, continue an intimacy of such a nature as that which had so long existed between them.
It was a long time before she recovered from the shock which this unfeeling letter inflicted, but when she did her first resolve was to remove immediately to less expensive lodgings, fully determined to lead a virtuous life and gain a living by honest industry. But a stranger, as she was, in the midst of a populous city like London, to whom could she apply? And even if successful in hearing of a situation, to whom could she refer for a character? She could not think of sending them to Lady C-, after quitting her service so abruptly.
Nothwithstanding the strictest economy her little capital was gradually diminishing, and to what could she have recourse when it was entirely exhausted? At length she determined upon writing her father, explaining to him without disguise her unfortunate situation and trusting to his parental feeling for pity and forgiveness. But how can I describe her grief and horror when upon inquiry she learned that her father had died suddenly and insolvent, the sale of his effects having been insufficient to satisfy his creditors.
She now felt herself entirely destitute, and after much consideration determined to apply at one of those establishments where they profess themselves both able and willing, for a trifling consideration, to procure situations for servants of every description; and should she be so fortunate as to hear of anything likely to suit her, be it ever so laborious, it was her resolve candidly and truly to relate to the master or mistress the story of her sufferings, trusting to their humanity to rescue her from destruction.
She accordingly waited upon the office keeper, who, upon the payment of half a crown, informed her that he believed he knew of a situation at that very moment which would exactly meet her wishes; her only employment, should she succeed in her application, would be to wait upon an elderly gentleman and his daughter; that she would in fact be considered as a member of the family, 'and,' he added with an arch look, 'should you be lucky enough to please the old gent-who was once a schoolfellow of mine-it will be the making of you. And, by the by, I have no
