The boy upon whom I fixed for this purpose was one nearly two years older than myself, who had always been very kind to me ever since I had been at school. Though not the biggest or the oldest, he was perhaps the handsomest boy in the school, and I somehow fancied that if he was disposed, he was quite able to enlighten me as to all I wanted to know. I had often been surprised, even before I had any suspicion on the subject, at the number of times he was up for punishment. It was not from his being behind the other boys in his lessons that this had occurred, for he was one of the cleverest boys in the school, but he was constantly saying or doing something which he must have known perfectly well would subject him to punishment. He was always the ringleader in all our misdeeds, and constantly put himself foremost in every piece of mischief that was committed, and when any investigation was made, he was ever the first to come forward and avow his share in it: in fact he seemed to take a pleasure in being found out when the consequences were to affect him alone. In place of getting more steady as he grew older, he seemed to get worse every day. Hardly a week passed without his having a sound flogging.
Latterly, when my suspicions had been fairly aroused, I watched him narrowly, and I once or twice tried to get him to speak to me openly on the subject of my curiosity, but he always evaded my questions and seemed to wish to appear not to understand my hints.
Whenever I had an opportunity now, I observed him closely during the time he was flogged, and though he took great care to arrange his clothes so as not to permit much of his person to be visible, I was able to discover that a certain part was affected pretty much in the same way as my own similar appendage had been under the same circumstances. At length I contrived to get a full view of a charming instrument standing fully erect, whose size surprised and delighted me. This sight determined me to come to an understanding with him at all hazards.
The usual time for inflicting punishment was after school hours, just before we were dismissed to the playground. This was a large open space of considerable extent, and in some places covered with bushes and gorse. I had noticed that, especially latterly, Sidney had always repaired after his punishments to one of the most retired spots, taking a book with him, and that he remained there for a considerable time by himself. I had once or twice attempted to join him but he always sharply rebuked me for disturbing him, and insisted on my leaving him.
Having formed my resolution, I seized the opportunity of the next flogging he received and, hastening to the playground before him, I concealed myself among the bushes close to the place where I knew he was accustomed to resort. I had hardly hidden myself when he arrived, and, to my great satisfaction, placed himself in a situation where I could perfectly well observe him.
The first thing he did was to lay down the book he had brought in his hand, and to take out another from his pocket, which he began to peruse. I noticed that there were some plates in it which he looked at attentively, but I was too far off to see what the subjects were. After a few minutes he began to move his body about uneasily, and finally he unloosened a few buttons in front of his trousers and inserted his hand within them. Although I could not exactly see what he was about, I was pretty certain that he had taken his plaything in his hand, and I was soon enabled to discover that he was occasionally moving his hand up and down upon it. After the lapse of a few minutes he turned the front of his person towards the bushes amongst which I was concealed, evidently for the purpose of hiding his proceedings from the view of any one who might approach. He then unloosened the front of his trousers more completely, and pulled up his shirt.
I was now quite satisfied that my conjectures were correct, and I watched eagerly to discover what his object could be. When he had completely opened out his trousers, a most lovely priapus started out, in a magnificent state of erection. It was so much larger than my own at that time that I should have been greatly surprised at it if it had not been for the previous glimpse I had obtained of it during his flogging, but you may well suppose that I was greatly interested and pleased at its appearance. It stood quite stiffly up among a few short auburn curls which adorned the surrounding part of his fine white belly, the rosy head only half appearing out from its soft covering. He grasped it in his hand, which he moved slowly and gently up and down upon it. I did not require the recollection of the happiness your own dear hand had conferred upon me by a similar movement to convince me that the proceeding was productive of the greatest delight to him. His eyes sparkled and his face glowed with unusual animation and the lovely object in his grasp throbbed and extended its proportions, throwing off the entire coverings from its swollen point.
My first intention was to remain concealed till I had witnessed the whole of his proceedings, but I began to fear that some one might approach, and that I might be thus prevented from surprising him in such a situation as would force him to admit me into his confidence. I therefore crept through the bushes as quietly as possible until I was near enough to convince him that I must have seen perfectly well what he was doing, and that it would be no use for him to deny it. Then rising up out of my concealment, I addressed him saying, “Halloa, Sidney! What is this you are about?”
He seemed at first extremely enraged at my appearance, and turning his belly away from me so as to conceal the disorder of his dress, as well as to hide the object of my curiosity, he fiercely demanded what I wanted with him, threatening to give me a good thrashing for coming there to annoy him.
I was too earnestly bent upon my object to be easily frightened, so I sat down beside him and said, “Well, Sidney, my boy, you shall thrash me as much as you like afterwards, only listen first to what I have to say to you.”
He seemed surprised at my impudence, but he allowed me to go on, and I proceeded to tell him of the strange effects produced upon me by my floggings, and of the extreme desire I felt to know what was the meaning of it. As he listened attentively to me and seemed amused with what I told him, I went on and informed him of my suspicion that he was affected in a similar manner on these occasions, and I told him what I had observed of his condition during his last punishment.
Of course, in my narrative I did not make the slightest allusion-to anything that had passed with Lady Lovesport or you. When I had finished, he asked me what was my object in telling him all this. I said I wanted to know what was the reason of the little gentleman getting into such a state, at the same time putting my hand under him and taking hold of the lovely naked object which still protruded far out from his belly through the opening in his trousers; and that I wanted also to ascertain what he did with it when it got into that condition, as I was sure, from what I had felt myself, that it was something that gave him a great deal of pleasure. I added that I hoped he would explain it all to me, as he might depend that I would never say a word to any one of what I had seen or of what he might tell me.
I fancy he thought that after what I must have observed there was no use in his attempting to conceal anything from me, for after remaining silent for a minute or two, he said that he would have no objection to gratify my curiosity, provided he were once satisfied that I was old enough to understand these things, but that, if he were to agree to show me and to explain to me all that was in his power, I must also satisfy him by allowing him to make an examination of all I had to show.
I could offer no objection to such an equitable proposition, and I told him that if he would gratify my curiosity, I would willingly do anything he might require in return.
But I am here interrupted by Gerald calling me to get ready to accompany him on a visit we are about to pay to some friends of his who live at a little distance from this, and as it may be a few days before I can proceed with my story, I shall send off this to amuse you in the meantime.
Ever your own,
Harry
Letter VI. Harry to Emily
Dearest Emily,
I think I left off in my description of my interview with Sidney at the moment when he had agreed to satisfy my curiosity as to what he was doing upon the condition that I was to show him sufficient proofs that I was capable of understanding the explanation he was willing to give me.
He now turned himself round where he was lying, so as to leave the front part of his person exposed to my researches, with his charming weapon extending out before him in a stiff and upright position. He then made me lie down beside him, and, while I opened out his trousers still further that I might procure a more complete view of the
