Page:The Way of a Virgin.djvu/111



HERE lived a maiden whose mother guarded her with infinite care lest some youth should do her ill; and she was brought up in all innocence. And when she begged to go to gatherings even as other maids of her age, her mother was wont to answer her, saying:

"Nay, my daughter, thou shalt not go, not there thou art like to lose thy maindenhead."

One day, nevertheless, Pierre, the maiden's lover, who was a good lad and quiet, came seeking to conduct her to an assembly, and both lad and maid besought the mother to let them go. In the end she consented, thinking in herself that Pierre was too honest to do her daughter ill, and she enjoined him guard her well.

Behold, then, these two on their way; and as they went, the maiden said:

"My mother hath strictly enjoined me guard my maidenhead. It seemeth that at assemblies one is in case to lose it. How best preserve it?"

"Hath not thy mother shown thee a method of so doing?"

"Yea," answered the maiden, "she hath enjoined me to press my thighs tightly together."