Eveline

Chapter 3

"My brother Percy has arrived at Liverpool. He will be in London tomorrow. He comes down to Eastbourne the next day. Papa returns to town to meet him. Lady L is no worse for the journey. Mrs. Lockett and John are left in town. Johnson has been sent down with Goorkha and another. We have secured excellent stables. Our apartments at the hotel are sumptuous and most convenient."

The above is the substance of the letter I sent to Lady Lessleton.

Sir Edward and I breakfasted together. The morning was lovely in its spring freshness. The sea was as smooth as glass.

The announcement of Sir Edward's elevation to the Peerage was gazetted in the morning paper. I was the first to kiss my congratulations. After the meal, the manager of the hotel waited on him also with the usual obsequious good wishes. It was intended kindly nevertheless. The afternoon post brought the following paragraph in Society Peeps:

"We announce with peculiar pleasure that a marriage has been arranged and will shortly be solemnized between the Right Honorable Earl of Endover and the Honorable Eveline L, only daughter of the newly created Baron L of Muddipour, still better known as Sir Edward L, Bart. We rejoice that the noble Earl, who has so long withstood the blandishments of very many eligible ladies, has at length secured as his prize the beautiful and accomplished belle of this season (her first). Everybody will remember how, by her ideal beauty, no less than by her charming style, and her modest and frank deportment, Miss L- took the town by surprise and our hearts by storm. Many will recall with pleasure Miss L 's exquisite piano performances when she so kindly assisted at the concerts lately given in aid of the funds of the Lying-In Hospital; the Hospital for the Special Treatment of Corns and Bunions; and the Asylum for the Victims of Misplaced Confidence. The Earl's seats are the splendid pile so well known as Normanstoke Towers, in Sussex; and 'Chitterlings,' a beautiful property in Cumberland, which has hitherto formed part of the jointure of the Countesses of Endover."

When I had recovered from the perusal of this, I said to myself:

"The Dragon has had a finger in that pie. I wish at this moment-he had another-but no matter!"

The main fact was correct, however. Lord Endover had wrung a consent from me before we left town. He was overjoyed and very kind. I only felt ill at ease and uncomfortable. Sir Edward tried his best to console me.

"You will have your freedom-a first-class and leading position in both countries. 'Chitterlings' will be settled on you as part of your jointure. It is a lovely spot. I remember it well. The views of the lake are magnificent. It has been admirably kept up. Eveline, my darling, you ought to be a happy woman."

"Let us forget it now, dear papa. Here at last we are out of the hurly-burly."

We agreed in our arrangements for the day. I was to ride with him in the morning. We would walk up the downs in the afternoon. Sippett was in attendance on Lady L as usual. He went to town next day to meet Percy and on business. I was left alone. Lady L- made no scruple of her dislike to me. After breakfast I wandered along the Parade. I watched the sea and the boats. One old boatman interested me.

"Go for a row, miss? Beautiful mornin', miss. Sea like ice. Launch her down in half a jiffy, miss. Pull alongshore and see the bathin'."

The loveliness of the day tempted me.

"Which is your boat, my friend?"

"That's she, miss. Yon white one, with the red streak."

"She looks a safe craft. Does she rock about much?"

"Lor' bless your sweet soul! No, miss! Why look at her grand flat bottom, and her fine run aft! She can travel too. She's got legs on her! You should have seen her at the regatta. Better have an hour's now, miss."

I got into the boat. The Locket, David Jones of Eastbourne, was painted on the board against which I leaned. It was a nice big boat with good cushions in clean white covers. The old man pushed off and jumped in.

"You'll go past the machines, miss, o'coorse?"

"Anywhere you like, Mr. David Jones. I have confidence in you. It is quite warm on the water."

"Yes, miss. These are the ladies' machines. The gents' is further hup. We shall have to pass the ladies fust, but it won't take long."

"Where are you going then, Mr. Jones?"

"Why, o'coorse-past the gents. All the ladies goes past in my boat. Tis what they likes best-as is nat'ral. That's what they takes the row for."

The old fellow grinned. He screwed up his face into a comical expression. He actually winked.

The boat did travel well, as the poor old fellow said. It only took ten minutes to pass the line of gaudily arrayed, tall, angular female figures, of squalling children and shouting girls bobbing about knee- deep with their 'flat bottoms and fine runs aft' presented seawards.

"What a number of people on the beach, Mr. Jones!"

"Yes, miss. They allus comes there to look at the ladies."

"I don't see very much to admire, but then perhaps it's because I'm a woman."

"Jus' so, miss. You wait a bit. It's all right, I knows what the ladies like."

Presently we passed the first of the men's bathing machines. Old Jones had pulled in closer.

"There we are, miss! Fine 'uns too among 'em today!"

I laughed-the idea was so crudely expressed. The fact was so evident that this was only an ordinary exercise on the part of the girls that I shook off the awkward feeling of restraint which troubled me. I looked boldly enough now. The men stood upon the machines with the doors open. They seemed to be employed principally in sawing their backs in a painful manner with bath towels. They were absolutely naked; their figures entirely and unblushingly exposed. Indeed when they saw me pass along with the old fellow they took special pains to exhibit themselves, their privates wagging proudly about in front.

"That's a fine 'un; ain't he, miss?"

I gazed in the direction in which the old man nodded his head as the boat glided by. I thought he even seemed to row slower as we passed. It was a tall man-white, handsome, well-developed-a patch of dark hair on his belly-a huge instrument of pleasure dangling between his thighs.

I held my breath. I noted the man well. I also observed the number of the machine-it was 33.

"Ah, he's a fine man, he is, miss, but he ain't half as fine a made man as what my son is. He's a sailor, miss, aboard a big four-masted ship, he is, and comin' home tomorrow. He's been round the Horn to Valparaiso and he's been took very bad along of the Horn and the weather. He's been paid off today, and he's comin' down here to see his old dad again. I 'spects him by the first train. He's been ten months away, but he's bound straight here, for he's a good lad and nothing wouldn't stop him in Lunnon."

"Dear me, Mr. Jones, you quite interest me. And you think he would not stay to spend any of his money among the pleasures of London? He must be quite a model young man. I'm sure you must be proud of him."

"I am that, miss. Not that he's much of a muddle either-he's fond of his old father, but he's fond of a pretty gal too. He'll be here tomorrow, then you can tell me if I'm right or not. Lor', miss, you should just see him pull these oars about. He used to make The Locket fly, he did! I fear I won't keep him here long. Not that he wouldn't go to sea again, but he'll get rid of his money among the gals here. They'll all be after him like they was afore."

"What a sad thing, Mr. Jones. Don't you give him good advice?"

"So I used to do, miss. But Lor' luv yer, what's the good; lions wouldn't hold him, miss, he's that hot when he gets ashore. I got the missionary to reason with him, but it wasn't no good. He went about just the same again. No, miss, wild elephants couldn't hold him."

"I think, perhaps, if you removed him from such temptations; if you kept him to your boat-letting business now, under your own eye, you know, Mr. Jones, don't you think that might tame him down a bit?"

"P'raps it might, miss, if he'd anyone to read and talk serious to him, but I don't know no one; and he's that quick and impatient-"

"You make me feel very much for your poor son, Mr. Jones. I shall come round in the morning, and if he's there then I should be pleased to talk to him on his duty to his parents."

"I've been a widderer these twenty year come Michaelmas, so there's only me to look after the lad. He's more fit to look after me now. There's one thing I likes about him. He don't drink."

I had one of my headaches next morning. I have not always the remedy for them at hand. On this occasion I had left it in London. I thought the air along the sea front might do me good. After breakfast I strolled along the Parade to the far corner where Mr. Jones-who, by the by, was not a Welshman but a native of Sussex-had his boat.

"Good morning, Mr. Jones. I see you are an advocate of cleanliness. Your Locket looks splendid, after the scrubbing you are giving her."

A fine, tall, young fellow, fair and freckled, with his short curly hair shading his broad forehead, wielded a mop which belabored the bottom and sides of the upturned skiff. His legs were bare to the knees. He stood like an old Northern Viking, a splendid specimen of the Anglo-Saxon race. The heavy bucket might have contained only waste paper from the manner in which he shifted it about, charged to the brim with sea water. He almost dropped it, however, as he turned and saw me. His mouth opened. He stood stupidly staring at me from behind his old father. I recognized the youth at once.

"Good mornin', miss. I don't know nothin' about no advocates, miss, but my son Bill is just a givin' her a rub round as we was a thinkin', the mornin' being so fine, I might see a young lady down for a row."

He had a twinkle in his eye which conveyed a silent hope that the liberal fee he had received the previous day might be repeated.

"So this is your son, is it, Mr. Jones? He must be of great service to you now you have got him."

"Oh, yes, miss-he's a main stronger nor me. You should see him capsize that there butt all alone by hisself. Why a rhinoceros couldn't do it!"

The old boatman was brimming over with pride-satisfaction at recovering his long-absent son betrayed itself in every feature.

"You must be very glad to see your father again."

"Yes, so I am, miss, and to find him so well and hearty. You see, miss, he's getting on now. It ain't as I'm so awful strong-it's that my old dad is a gettin' a bit shaky in his timbers, miss."

There was something charming in the kindly smile and the rough yet tender manner of the blunt young sailor towards the old man which made me look him over more attentively. He was certainly a superbly built young fellow. His bare arms and legs were furnished with a muscular development, which is rare in these days of effeminacy. A vigorous, healthy life upon the ocean had served to enhance all his natural advantages. He was a man to my mind. My headache increased-I wanted him badly to cure it.

Between them, they turned the boat over again. It was a good substantial skiff. I had been used to boating with Percy as a child. I knew something about rowing. I used to astonish the girls at the pensionnat near Paris when we all went in a formal party down the Seine from Suresnes. It suited me now to pretend ignorance.

"I hope you will stop with your dad, and-and be a good boy. He tells me you are too fond of… of pleasure."

My manner was demure. I flashed him one of my glances. He seemed struck. There is-they say-a Freemasonry in love. I say there is more. There is a magnetism in love which is conveyed from mind to mind-from brain to brain-from heart to heart, if you will- but there is a power, subtle and irresistible, which speaks more powerfully than words. "I love you, I want you." Such was the influence which flashed between us now.

"We sailors don't get too much pleasuring, miss-but I've been ten months at sea, shut up in an old box of a ship all the time, four hours out and four hours in-and that's about the size of it. My dad ain't the man to deny me a fair run ashore, now I'm home again. I know how to take care of the rhino all the same, but I mean to stay some time with him now and I shan't trouble about shipping again yet awhile."

There was a half-serious, half-comical air about the young fellow which showed he only partly believed in me. His keen blue eye followed me. He was noting me well from head to foot. He was distinctly struck with my appearance. Admiration was plainly, visibly written in his look. I read him like a book. I was a revelation to the young sailor. No doubt his appetite was sharp after ten long months at sea. I inwardly rejoiced. Meanwhile the boat was ready, the cushions in their places.

"If you've a mind for a row, miss, my son Bill will go with you and pull you about anywhere you likes."

I got into the boat. They launched her down. Bill swung himself in over the bow. He backed her out from the smooth beach. Then he sat himself down facing me and began to row steadily away from the shore.

"I really don't know if I ought to trust myself all alone with such a gay young man as your dad describes you, Mr. William, but after all, he does not give you a bad character, though he does say you are somewhat-somewhat-what shall I say?"

"Oh, I know, he's a larky old customer, is my dad, and he thinks I'm not much steadier than he was when he was a young 'un. Which course shall we steer, miss-go along the Pevensey shore, or keep on out of the Bay a bit?"

"Let us get into deep water and right away from the sound of the noisy people ashore. How fast you row!"

He was pulling as if for a wager. We were already half a mile away, heading straight out to sea. He slacked a little as I spoke. All this time his gaze never left my person or my face. He was trying to sum me up. Speculating, probably, as to what sort of bedfellow I should make. He was very good-looking certainly. As he bent forward to his paddles, his loose shirt disclosed his broad chest covered with a fine sandy down. I felt impatient as I sat on the broad seat with a back to it. I faced him all the time. I sat cross-legged, my right knee over the left. As Bill pulled away at the paddles, my leg was jerked backwards and forwards. I took care he should have a good view of my feet and my stockings as well. I soon fascinated him. The black silk seemed a new sensation. He commenced to row still more unevenly. My leg moved in cadence. He could see at times up to my knee as the light breeze assisted his design. He was evidently getting excited. A strong lascivious expression extended itself over his features.

"So you have been shut up ten months on board ship, Bill? That must have been trying to a fine young man like you?"

I could not beat about the bush. I wanted him. I meant to indulge my inclination-to have him. It was no time to waste in mere sentiment-in childish trifling.

"I guess it was, miss. Never saw a petticoat for over four months. We were not allowed ashore at Valparaiso, only in the daytime. It's a queer hole for British seamen, miss; nothing but rows and robbery."

"Poor fellow! But of course you have a sweetheart here?"

"Not I, miss. I only came home last night, or rather early this morning. I couldn't stop in London with the poor old dad here and he so old and feeble-like, so I jumped into the first train I could."

"You are a good fellow, Bill. I like you very much. What a long way we are from the shore now! I can't see the pier anymore."

"We're over two miles from Eastbourne now. See that light-ship there-that's the Royal Sovereign shoal."

"How lovely it seems-how calm the sea is! We need not go any further out. You might not be able to get back, Bill."

"I only wish I couldn't."

"Why so, Bill?"

"Because I haven't had the chance to see a face like yours in all my life, miss! There-now it's out!"

"Oh, Bill! You don't mean that? Come and sit here and tell me all about it."

I made room for him beside me on the broad seat with the backboard. Bill took up a rope and began undoing the end into four separate cords. Then he got the other end of the same rope, and served it the same. I watched him. Then he put to ends together, the four cords of each end interlacing.

"Why Bill! What do you call that?"

"That's what we sailors call making a splice, miss-when it's done."

"Do you ever think of being spliced yourself, Bill?"

"Sometimes, but sailors ought never to be properly spliced up, miss. There ought to be a slippery hitch somewhere. They're awfully true when spliced, but the gals ain't. They can't stand the long absences."

"Can you make a slippery hitch, Bill?" He laughed. We both laughed. I looked into his eyes. He returned my gaze. I put my hand on his thigh. He slipped his left arm round my waist. He had dropped the rope now. We sat quiet a moment. The only sound we could hear was the low gurgling of the placid sea under the boat's bows and sides, as she lay idly rolling on the gentle swell.

"We are quite alone here, Bill-not a boat anywhere."

He had white canvas trousers on, turned up to his knees. My hand stole along until it was suddenly arrested by something hard and solid between his legs which lay along the inside of his left thigh. I lifted my face up close to his. Instantly he kissed me on the mouth.

"Oh, Bill! Oh, you bad boy!"

He seized me tightly in his arms. He covered me with kisses. He pressed my bosom with his great sailor hand. I closed my eyes and suffered all.

"Make me a slippery hitch, Bill, dear!"

He pressed me again tighter than ever. My fingers pressed his limb. It seemed tremendously thick and stiff.

"Ten months! Only think, Bill, how bad you must feel!"

His hand was already on my leg. As I spoke it moved further up. I opened my legs and let it pass. Meanwhile I deliberately unbuttoned his canvas flap.

"I want to look at it, Bill."

"So you shall, my dear. It's a whopper."

A moment later, a huge naked limb, stiffly erect and throbbing with eagerness for enjoyment, was in my grasp. His hand had already taken possession of the center of my desires. His fingers maddened me. Without more ado, I pulled the big member into the warm daylight. It was a beauty! White and red, with a large soft top and hard sides- very long and awfully stiff. We rolled about together in the position as the boat answered to the undulations of the sea. It could not last so, however, and so it came to pass that I slipped, cushion and all, off the seat. Bill and I found ourselves on the floor-boards of the skiff with the cushion under us. I still retained my hold on his limb. He reached out and secured another cushion which he placed under my loins. Then he tilted me back. He pulled up my clothes. I am afraid I helped him. He took one look at my exposed legs-at my white belly. I saw for a second his big truncheon menacing me within a few inches of my thighs. Then he threw himself upon me. I was quite as eager as he was. I helped him to his pleasure. The lewd business was about to begin-the curtain was up-the actor and the actress were on the stage.

"Oh! Oh! Bill-you hurt! Oh! Oh! You're right into me! You're too big! You're-Oh! — Oh! -Oh! My goodness, Bill!"

Nothing stopped him. The young fellow had fasted a long time. I was getting the full benefit of his abstention. He pushed his great tool into me to his balls. He never spoke, but he set his teeth together. He worked up and down, thrusting at me like a battering ram. In less time than it takes to relate, he sank on my chest. I felt a sudden gush of hot seed. I knew that his pleasure had reached the climax. He lay discharging, until a flood of thick sperm deluged my interior. My own pleasure was supreme. He gave me no rest. Instead of withdrawing, he recommenced. A few thrusts, aided by the natural elasticity of my vagina, restored him to all his virility. He commenced another course. Oh, the impatient fellow! How he worked me!

"Oh! Bill, dear Bill! Go slowly-do it gently, Bill! Oh, oh! You'll ram the bottom of the boat out! Oh, my goodness! Oh!"

"Boat be damned!" was the polite rejoinder.

At last he got up. He adjusted his clothes. He wiped his smoking member. I raised myself on my cushions. I dipped my handkerchief into the cool sea-water and sopped up all I could of the tremendous overflow I had received. I made the best toilette possible under the circumstances.

"We can sail back easy. The wind is almost dead fair. Then we can sit together. Do you feel jolly now, my dear love?"

There was something that touched me beyond simple lust in this young fellow. There was an innate tenderness towards 'his gal,' to which they say sailors are particularly prone, just as one makes a pet of a dog.

I have heard of sailors at Portsmouth, newly discharged from their ships and envious of married men, who had found a ready-made progeny on their return, seeking to emulate them by hiring babies to carry up and down the Yard. I can quite believe it.

Bill set to work. In two minutes the mast was stepped; in two more the sail was hoisted and set, and the sheet, as he called it, hauled aft. The skiff sailed along merrily-too quickly I thought, as I sat on the cushioned floor of the boat with my head on the thigh of the young sailor who held the tiller. My restless fingers would not remain quiet. They sought their play-fellow. Bill opened his flap. I pulled out his stiffening limb.

"Oh, Bill! What a big one! Do you feel any better now?"

"Why, yes, my lovely dear one, of course I do, and I'm damned grateful to you for the chance, miss. But I wish-that I do-we were not going to part so soon. I should like to have you all night."

"Oh, Bill! A pretty thing you'd make of me by morning!"

His limb rose again under the skillful touches of my nimble fingers. As I sat, my face was just on a level with his erect weapon. He held the tiller in one hand; with the other he caressed my neck and bosom. I bent forward. I examined minutely his splendid limb from end to end. I put my hand under and felt his testicles. I tickled him lusciously. I put the tip of the broad nut to my lips. I kissed it. I opened them-it entered. I sucked it. I rolled my hot tongue round the red head.

"Oh! Oh! Little lass! You… you are d-driving me mad, don't ye know! Oh! Oh! Do stop a moment. Here, come stern on. I'll arrange all in the twinkling of a handspike. Now sit down between my legs. So! Oh, my God!"

He pulled me backwards. He had already raised my clothes. My buttocks were exposed to his salacious view. I settled myself down upon his thighs. I felt his thing pressing in between my pliant globes. The big knob was jammed between them. I put down my right hand. I place his weapon between the moist lips of my little slit. I pressed down.

"Oh! Damn my eyes and limbs! My bowsprit's run you aboard, missy! It's right into you up to the gammoning! Oh, isn't it lovely?

He seized me round the hips. He pushed home. With my left hand, I tickled his testicles. His big limb stretched me tremendously. I enjoyed it all the same. I shared his transports. I was mad with lust. I jogged up and down. My spasms came all too soon. I ceased moving. I could only moan now. Bill took up the movements. He pushed with fury.

"Oh, Bill! You'll upset the boat!"

"Upset the soup, you mean! There it goes! Enough for all hands!"

Truly the vigor of this active young sailor was tremendous. He had been ten months, remember, without copulation. His excitement, doubtless his enjoyment, was proportionate to the length of his abstinence. I was really glad when the boat's keel touched land.

"The Honorable Mr. Percy is in the drawing-room, miss.

"Arrived already, Ferguson? I had no idea the time had gone so fast. Oh, I am so glad! Say I'm coming immediately."

I found him so changed. The boy had expanded into a fine young man. He was handsome too. A spanking likeness of his father. My thoughts went back to the old days. Was he changed in character also? Hardly so, I thought. Did his mind revert to the time when we were last together? If so-what did he think of it all now?

"How you are altered, Eveline! I should have known you anywhere-but how you have grown! How you have developed! You are the most beautiful of girls! By Heaven, you take me by surprise! What a figure! I never saw so perfect a face in my life."

We stood together in the light of the window. He was indeed altered. No doubt he found me also very different from the little girl he had parted from so long ago. I seemed to astonish and attract him. He had lots to tell me of his foreign service-his friends and his comrades. We passed a quiet evening together. Papa had returned with Percy from London.