Page:The Way of a Virgin.djvu/194

Rh bade me assure myself on the point. At the same moment she turned up her dress.

"Thou wast right," said I, "and I owe thee an apology." But in my heart I cursed the chemise and the grille.

"'Tis my opinion," quoth I to M—— M——, "that here we have a little lad."

Without awaiting a reply, I laboured so well that I satisfied myself, by touch, as to her sex, and I could see that the little one and her governess were pleased that my mind was at rest on the subject.

When I had withdrawn my hand, the little one gave a kiss to M—— M——, whose smiling air reassured her, and begged leave to absent herself for a moment. It seems I had reduced her to a state in which a brief space of solitude was necessary, and I myself was in a highly excited condition.

When she had gone, I said to M—— M——:—

"Dost realise that what thou hast shown me hath made me unhappy?"

"And why?"

"Because thy boarder is charming and I am dying to possess her."

"I grieve for that, since thou canst not go further; moreover, I know thee, my friend, and e'en though thou couldst satisfy thy passion without danger to her, I would not yield her to thee; thou wouldst spoil her."

"How?"

"Dost think that after enjoying thee she would care to enjoy me? I should lose too heavily by comparison."

"Give me thy hand."

"Nay."