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 taunt her for what she had done. All at once she saw plainly a gibing face making mouths at her, then another and still another, and all the room was full of these grinning, leering masks; they were horrible to see, she felt that she was growing mad.

She took some drops of cherry-laurel, she was again quieted and even dropped off to sleep; when she awoke she found her aunt's obnoxious poodle, sitting on his haunches, in the middle of the room, and watching her. No sooner were her eyes opened than he jumped up, wagged his tail and came to sniff at her bed, with evident delight. She drove him off and her heavy eye-lids drooped and closed again, but not for long. Soon afterwards the dog had stealthily crept back in the room, got softly on her bed, thrust his muzzle between her thighs, and was deftly licking at the sore and turgid lips, producing a most pleasurable sensation. The young girl dreamt that she was at church and that the priest—in the likeness of St-Sebastian—was imparting his blessing upon her. Unfortunately in the ineffable moment she woke and saw that bugger of a