The abbess was the most kindly woman of her class I ever knew and superior to her business, her house the nicest and quietest.
On a sunshining day in August that year at about 2:30 p.m. I was passing a theatre near to the Thames and loitered to read the programme, scarcely any people were about. On the footway stood a tallish, dark eyed and exceedingly handsome woman, well dressed and looking about four and twenty, talking to a short, shabby old woman, the sort of woman who is frequently the friend and aid of high class harlots and actresses, oftentimes indeed their relatives. I was very fit that day, was dressed gaily, had had a good luncheon, womankind looked lovely in my eyes, but I'd no intention of seeking their acquaintance in the flesh, tho my pego was a little on the swell for I'd fucked no one recently, and had had no novelty since my return to England.
Few people were in London. Many frail ladies who could not afford to leave were in town, their lovers were absent, and their cunts missed the stretch and libations which they loved. People at hotels were having luncheon. Struck with the lady I looked at her with admiration. She fixed her eyes on mine, turning her head towards me as I approached, and turning her head round directly I had passed to look after me. I did the same, and looking half over my shoulder our eyes again met. I turned my head away courteously, but a voluptuous tingle went thro me as I thought of her cunt, — which of course I thought of.
I slackened my pace involuntarily. I had no object beyond seeing her beauty, and walked on a little, and then looking at some object as an excuse turned half round to look at her. She was still looking after me; beckoned with a toss of her head, and the old woman went off. Instinctively and without thought I returned, and in a second we were close together. “What are you staring at me for, do you know me?” said she with a smile. — “No — because you are so lovely.” — She laughed, I laughed, and there was a minute's silence. — She seemingly was waiting for me to make advances, but as I didn't said hesitatingly, “Come home and dine with me.” Awakened fully to the position, not wishing any more liaisons, thinking that a fiver if not a tenner would be expected, and I knew not what else, and having neither money or time. “Sorry I can't I've just had luncheon.” — “So have I, but I said dine,” — and her face I fancied looked livingly at me.
I was “flummoxed” by this very clear invitation to fucking, and as I have always been frank with women, and saw that this would be an entertainment beyond my means, recovered my reason which was failing under her fascination, and the carnal ideas and curiosities springing up, and making my pego thicken and elongate with voluptuous thrills. I told her I was sorry, was neither young nor rich. “So mustn't tho I longed for you the instant I saw you, — besides you'd be tired of me soon.” “Then you can go,” — she laughing re-plied. — “But I haven't two sovereigns in my pocket.”
— “Well, keep them there — come” — looking in her smiling face, thoughts of her cunt came, my cock erected itself. “Is it far?” — “Only at * * * * *, come, I'm very lonely.”
A crowd of thoughts rushed thro my brain. Desire for her — was it a trap — was she married — o kept. — Suppose I am caught — has she a letch for me? — If so I can't fuck as much as she'll want; these jumbled in my head making me irresolute. — “Are you an ac-tress?” — “You're curious.” — “Married?” — “No.”
— “Have you a friend?” — “You're very curious.” Saying that she half turned away. Then desire for her rushed through my brain and body — I should lose her.
— “Very well.” — She laughed. A growler passed us, into it we got, and in doing so again I said “I'm a poor man.” — “So you said.” The cab drove off, then I kissed her and she me. — “You are so lovely.” — “Do you think so” Then the conversation stopped, I wondering how the affair would end. Soon after we were at her house.
A pertish-mannered damzel opened the door. The dining room was handsomely furnished on the ground floor, where for a minute the lady left me. The first floor to which I soon mounted was handsomer, and I saw thro a door ajar a bedroom, thro which peeped my lady saying “I'm only changing my dress.” — Her name she'd told me in the cab, I promised not to reveal it and shall call her Lilian, tho neither word nor letter even phonetically resemble her true name.
