Eveline

BOOK TWO
Chapter 1

Papa is absent fishing about Maidenhead somewhere. He loves the art. As far as I can see he never catches anything. Lady L is taking advantage of the opportunity as usual to go in for any extra quantity of champagne and soda. Sippett is, also as usual, assiduous of her mistress's interest regulated in diminutive proportion to her own. Mrs. Lockett is the only active person on the establishment and she is about to visit some friends at Croydon this afternoon. The carriage has gone to Kensington to meet Papa, and will not return till six p.m. It is now exactly ten minutes to five.

I was all alone. I was not "at home" to callers. I was lazy and idle. There is an old saying about idle hands and the devil. I suppose that was why he prompted me. Or was it some lesser imp endowed with the power of knowing exactly what Eveline demanded? I had on my walking dress. I had just come in. No one had seen me, or heard me. I went out again and closed the door with my latchkey. I would go round myself and see how my horse was and give my orders myself for the morning. Possibly Jim would be there. I met no one in the mews. I entered our stable. My horse was comfortable in his stall. Jim was making the beds ready for the carriage horses on their return. "Good afternoon, Jim. I see you look after my new horse well."

"Yes, miss. But he must not have too much corn. He gets too frisky. He hasn't work enough. He's too fond of his play."

"Is he indeed, Jim? I suppose there's lots of play round here. What was Mary playing with the other evening when she was here?" "Mary, miss? Why-how do you know Mary was here, miss?"

"How do you know I am here now, Jim?"

"'Cos I can see you myself, miss."

"Well then, Jim, it is because I saw Mary."

The young groom looked confused and rather silly. I put on my most childish air. My eye held his while a sort of fluttering smile beamed out on my rosy cheeks. I put my finger across my lips. I glanced half fearfully, half poutingly towards the door. Jim rested his fork against the manger and stood staring at me doubtfully.

"I hope, miss, you won't be hard on us. We were only having a little talk together. We might have had a minute's play to pass the time."

"I know what she was playing with, Jim."

Jim caught my expression. He was evidently alarmed and perplexed.

"Would you like to play with me a little, Jim?"

His face changed suddenly. It was if he had caught up his stage cue and could go on. My eye wandered again to the door.

"Oh, Miss Eveline-if you were only in earnest!"

"Lock the door, Jim."

He went promptly and passed the bolt.

"You seemed to like Mary very much. Is she your sweetheart, Jim?"

"Lord, no, miss. I rather wish she wouldn't come slipping in here when I'm at work. I'm not over fond of her, I can tell you, miss. She'll be getting me into trouble with her tricks. I was only having a bit of fun with her."

"Would you like to have a bit of fun with me, Jim?"

He had come back, and stood close to me.

"Oh, miss, that would not be for the likes of me! You are such a beautiful young lady-so thorough-bred. The servants all say you're an angel."

His face flushed. He looked the image of doubt and timidity.

"You may play with me, if you like, Jim. I am only flesh and blood like Mary, but you must not kiss and tell."

I extended my gloved hand. He caught it up, squeezed it, and kissed it.

We both listened. All was absolutely still at that hour. We were alone. My desire rose stronger and stronger.

"Is the door locked, Jim? Then kiss me!"

His eyes sparkled. I put up my face to his. He put his rough big hands around my waist. He drew me to him and covered my face with kisses. His confidence seemed to come back to him. He was no longer afraid to venture; in fact he showed evident symptoms of quickly rising passion. The young man was transformed. I watched with surprise the effects of my childish nonsense. His eyes glistened lewdly as he kissed me. His lips grew hot and shot his warm sweet breath in my face. I grew excited as I noted the result of my indulgence. There is no pleasure for a woman equal to the delight of witnessing the sexual transports of which she is the cause. He put his hands on my bosom. He pressed me rapturously in his arms. I felt a hard thing against my belly.

"Oh, Jim! How rough and strong you are! You must not do that!"

I put down my right hand. It encountered his limb, over which the thin breeches he wore were tightly stretched. I could see the nut bulge against the coarse material.

"Oh, Jim! Is this what Mary was playing with?"

The young fellow had no better reply than a grin. He had one hand round my waist, but with the other he quickly unbuttoned his flap. He released his shirt. It stuck out horribly in front. Under it was something I meant to investigate. I pushed the shirt aside. My hand closed on his limb-a monstrous affair quite as large as that of the "Teapot" and much nicer to feel. It was at least nine inches long and awfully thick! I laughed and pointed at it. He had lost all reserve now. I took a good look at his big thing. He had two large balls below. He was very hairy, much more so than John. He became dreadfully excited-quite mad with mere animal desire. He seized me again in his powerful arms.

"Jim! For shame-you must not do that! You are lifting me off my feet!"

He had his hand up my clothes. I struggled in vain to keep my balance. I had sown the wind-I was about to reap the whirlwind.

There were some trusses of straw in an empty stall. He lifted me bodily, turned me round, and threw me upon them. I fell on my back. Jim pressed down over me.

"Let me get up! Do you hear, Jim? I am frightened! Oh, it is too bad!"

He ruthlessly pulled up all my clothes. I wore no drawers. Everything was at his mercy. He was like a lion in his rage.

My thighs were exposed as I lay. He felt me all about-my legs, even my buttocks. He bent over me and held me forcibly down. He knelt between my legs. His monstrous limb stood stiff-impatient- fiercely erect, almost against his hairy belly.

"Oh, Jim, do you want to kill me? Let me go, I say!"

He dragged me towards himself. He opened my thighs. I thought it best to lie still. His intention was only too plain.

"No, but I mean to stroke you, if I swing for it. It will be nicey nicey presently. Only let me put it in."

"To stroke me, Jim?"

"Well, anyhow, to have you."

"What do you mean, Jim? Dear Jim! Do let me go!"

"Well, damn it, to roger you! It's too late to stop now. You're such a lovely little treat, you know, Miss Eveline! Who'd have thought you would have come in here just as I was feeling so randy?"

"What do you mean by 'randy,' Jim?"

All this time he was making awkward attempts with the huge knob of his weapon against my parts.

I put down my hand as if to defend myself. No wonder he could not get it in! The head of his limb was the size of a large egg-plum! I intended to brave all. In reality I was as lewdly inclined as he was. Secretly I enjoyed his brutality. My excitement rose to erotic fury. I made as though to divert his attack. He continued his cruel thrusts. I suddenly placed the tip of the knob between the humid lips. I clenched my teeth. So far from flinching, I bore up to him. I wanted the whole thing inside me. I felt he was in the right place; but oh, the stretching, the striving, the pushing! At last the thing went in-in-up my vagina-opening it as it had never been opened. He went to work — to "stroke" me, as he called it. He pushed furiously. The straw was elastic. We bounded up and down. I met each lunge with a cry of lewd delight. Soon the pleasure was awful. I rolled in an agony of lecherous frenzy.

"Oh, my goodness! Oh! Oh! It's getting nicey nicey! Oh, Jim! You're stroking me now, Jim, ain't you?"

The man could only grunt and thrust. He was in ecstasy. While he was having me, he kept stopping to grip me tighter-to push in closer. He gasped-he snorted with the pleasure. I kept on coming. My spasms never ceased all the time he was in me.

"Oh, Jim, don't push so hard! You are so dreadfully big. You're too far in. Oh! My goodness, how you are thrusting! It's all wet! How lovely it feels now! Push! Push now, Jim!"

"Good Lord, miss! I'm coming-oh!"

He gave some thrusts, the like of which were new to me. They caused me to come again. They were short, hard jerks. I felt him discharge right into me. The hot seed came from him in jets. I closed my eyes-my limbs quivered in the luxury of wallowing in this common fellow's sperm. I received every drop in my belly. He seemed to take a deliciously long time in spending. At last he lay still.

"You must never stroke me again, Jim."

"Not until next time, I hope, miss."

He assisted me to rise. I could hardly stand. I regained the house. I entered with my own key. I regained my chamber unobserved. My face in the glass was more like that of a ghost. Jim's spendings were running down my legs and all over my silk stockings.

"Please, Miss Eveline, there's a cabman at the door says he wants to see you. He would not tell me his business. He's a sulky-looking chap, miss. Shall I send him off?"

"No, John, I am going out. I will see him myself."

I chanced to be in the hall. I was ready for my morning walk. John watched me with glistening eyes and moist lips as I drew on and fitted my beautiful new gloves. I gave my dress a shake and a twirl, I put my dainty little foot up on the hall chair. John pretended to dust it with his pocket handkerchief. Robin was making himself evident.

"Open the door, John, please-I am ready now."

I knew the man at once-the hansom driver with the hare-lip. He turned from his horse towards me as I emerged from the house.

"It's all right, thank you! You can close the door, John, and go in."

"Well, you want to see me. What do you want?"

"Look here, miss! You left this here in my cab t'other night when I druv yer 'ome from the restaurant."

"No-I am sure I left nothing. Besides, that is not my property."

I knew that if he had really found a purse in his cab, it was his duty to take it to Scotland Yard. I said nothing more. I waited.

"If it isn't yours then it must be somebody else's. It doesn't alter the case though. The other night it was you as I druv here from the Up-to- Date Supper Rooms. Everybody knows what goes on there. When I sees a young lady comin' down from them there cabinet party ticklers to the private way out at twelve o'clock at night, I knows it's not for nuffin."

"What do you mean? Don't speak so loud, my good man!"

"I mean wot I ses: when I sees a gent-a reglar toff, old enough to know better-handing a vartuous young lady into my hansom from them rooms-a young lady livin' here, and 'as parents as is proud of her, as knows nuffin of these goin's on-then I ses, ses I to myself- its' a shame, it's a blot as oughter be cleaned out, and the sooner them parents is made acquainted with 'em the better."

"What does all this mean?"

"Wot does it mean? It means a tenner if as how I'm to 'old my tongue. I can't have my time wasted. I've 'ad two days' 'unt about the family and the 'ouse. I knows now who you are, miss. If you take my honest advice-you'll square it. I've druv yer twice from there."

"What's a 'tenner'?"

The fellow had lowered his voice. He stopped, pretending to be arranging the India-rubber mat in his cab. I began to grasp the situation. My last question was only a ruse to gain time. Meanwhile I had made up my mind.

"Wot's a tenner? Why a ten pun' note to be sure, and it's nuffin when you consider it. S'pose I rings the bell, and axes your flunkey to see his missus, Lady L, werry partic'lar? I oughter do it-it's only my dooty."

"But, my good man, it's a large sum of money. I haven't got so much here. I should have to go to the banker's for it and cash a check."

"That's only reasonable. You can go now, and I can drive you. I don't want to make no trouble if I can 'elp it, and you're such a nice quiet sorter young lady. Only I tells yer-you'll 'ave to pay the fare there and back-nobody does nuffin for nuffin."

"You promise me if I give you this money that you will keep the secret?"

"In course I will! It's only between us two-at present. Jump in, missy! Where to?"

"Drive me to Temple Bar. Go by Leicester Square and Long Acre. I want to stop at the Floral Hall by Covent Garden theatre as we go along."

"Right yer are, miss!"

As I sat back in the cab, I thought quietly over this business. Certainly it would never do to drive the man to extremities and let him communicate with Lady L. Neither could I think of worrying Papa, or of dragging him into the affair. It would set all my mother's worst suspicions at work. She would never stop till she had wormed out something damaging to us both. It would cause endless trouble. It was not to be thought of. Eveline was in a somewhat tight place now, if ever she was.

The cab went gaily along through the square, up Long Acre until it arrived at the corner of Bow Street. There the traffic was more congested. The hansom went at a walking pace. Exactly as I arrived opposite the Police Station, I saw a constable by the curb, I beckoned him.

"Come here, please-stop this cab immediately. I must see Sir Langham Beamer-don't lose sight of the driver!"

The policeman went to the horse's head. He called another man from the doorway. He spoke to the man with the hare-lip. The cab drew up to the curb exactly before the stone doorway over which was written "Police." The policeman politely opened the doors of the hansom. He handed me out.

"We have his number, the man can't go away."

"You will find the Inspector in the office, miss. The Court is up."

I went in. I handed my card to the Inspector. I asked to see Sir Langham Beamer.

"Is it private business? Sir Langham's in his room-but I'll take the card in with pleasure, miss."

He had a good look at me. Evidently he admired me. He was a very fine man, tall and powerfully built-exactly the sort of man to suit Eveline-to be also the terror of the evildoer. I flashed a glance at him before he disappeared.

"Sir Langham will see you at once, miss. Will you please to walk this way?"

It was quite easy to stumble on the thick doormat-so very natural that Inspector Walker should catch me by the hand. It was also even necessary for us to hold on, so that he could squeeze my soft kid glove in his strong palm, because I might have fallen.

"So you have found your way already? So very glad you did not forget the old man of the lock up. Ha, ha!"

"Oh, Sir Langham! How could I so soon forget you and your kind invitation. But I must not make that my excuse even for venturing to trouble you now."

The dear old gentleman was seated at a large table. Before him was a luncheon tray with a cover for one. He had risen with the air of an old beau as I entered. He pressed me into a chair and reseated himself.

"Well, what can I do for you, my dear young lady? By the way, how charming you look today! You will not object to the presence of my lunch. If you permit me, I will commence my chop. Nothing in all the universe so good after all as a real London mutton chop-mind-a loin chop-none of your chump chops-but a loin chop like this-ha, ha!"

The cheery old gentleman raised the tempting morsel on his fork for my inspection. I duly admired it. In fact I had no appetite just then for chops.

"I wish I had another to offer you. How's Sir Edward? Grand man, Sir Edward! Why did you not bring him too? Not but that I am naturally charmed to have a tete-a-tete with-permit an old boy like me the privilege-with so beautiful a young lady as you, Miss L-."

"It's about a cabman. The man is here."

"Ah! Disputed fare, no doubt. These fellows like to get hold of an inexperienced young creature like you, my dear child."

"No, no, it's more serious than that, Sir Langham. The man thinks he has a secret, and demands a large sum of money to keep it."

The police magistrate put down his knife and fork. All his professional instincts immediately awoke.

"Ah! Why that must be strange! You can have no secrets worth the fellows' keeping-it sounds like blackmail. Are you sure there is no mistake? You say the man is here?"

"Yes, I came here in his cab. The policemen have taken his number."

Sir Langham touched his little silver gong. Inspector Walker appeared. Sir Langham gave an order in an undertone. Then the Inspector vanished, but not before our glances had crossed.

"Now tell me all about it."

"A few nights ago I went to the Opera with Papa. I had not been feeling well all day and had foolishly gone without any dinner. At the Opera I felt the heat, and the noise of the music seemed to stun me. Papa guessed the cause. He proposed we should leave. As it was late and the servants had orders not to await our return on such occasions, Sir Edward suggested going for some supper to a restaurant. We went to one they call the "Up-to-Date." There we supped. Afterwards papa called a cab-this man's cab-which was at the door, and we drove home direct. I went in with my latchkey. Papa went away along the street for some fresh air before 'turning in,' as he calls it."

"Well, my dear young lady-I'm as wise as ever."

"But please wait a moment, Sir Langham. On another occasion Papa and I arranged to sup there again. This cabman was there once more. Sir Edward put me into the hansom and gave the driver our address. Then he said good night, and kissed me as I sat in the cab. He walked straight off to his club, having an appointment."

"I confess I do not see how any trouble could come out of all that, my child. With Sir Edward, your father, you were quite safe anywhere. Besides you have already so perfect a character among your friends for prudence-I hear it everywhere."

"But here is where the trouble is. You are perfectly aware my mother is an invalid. She has no sympathy for poor papa. Of course, Sir Langham, I am speaking to you in all confidence. My mother is not affectionate to me, her only daughter. Strange as it may appear, she more than dislikes me. Her illness is to a great extent self-caused. She has a habit which we fear is rooted."

"Yes, yes, I have heard that before. Well?"

"If my mother were to hear that my papa had taken me to such a place for supper, she would be furious. She would make his life more wretched and unbearable than it is. She would never rest until she had fastened on his a character for frequenting fast places, and even worse-for permitting his daughter to accompany him! You know how good and noble he is? It would kill him. She must not know."

The tears stood in my eyes. I am told I am at such moments more seraphically beautiful than usual.

"Now I understand. Confound the fellow! He has taken your companion for a friend. He thinks he has a pull out of the affair. Putting it all together, with my knowledge of the world, I can see his drift. You are right, your mother must not know. Leave it to me. You have done quite right to come to me."

The magistrate touched his gong. The Inspector entered. He laid a sheet of parchment and an oval badge with a strap on the table. He stood awaiting orders.

"Walker, please bring that cabman in here and leave us together."

A few seconds later the driver with the hare-lip stood before the police magistrate. His old air of insolent triumph had given place to a pallid and dejected look which plainly told his tale of apprehension and alarm.

Sir Langham glanced at the parchment.

"This is your license is it, my man? I see it has one endorsement already. You have been here before."

"It wasn't my fault, please your worship."

"Of course not. The present business is, however, likely to have considerably more serious consequences for you. This young lady charges you with demanding a sum of ten pounds from her under a threat. Now, do you know where that takes you, my man? If proved, it means under the new act six months if I have the case before me, but-stop! Listen-don't interrupt. If I send you for trial at the Old Bailey, as I certainly should, it would mean five years penal servitude."

A still more significant change came over the cabman. He actually trembled. I thought he was going to faint. He steadied himself by leaning his arm against the doorpost.

"I hope the young lady will not go on with it. I hope you will forgive me, miss-I promise."

"Never mind about your promises, my man. If this young lady, whom you have mistaken and insulted, decides not to prosecute you, you may think yourself sufficiently lucky. You can go. There are your badge and your license. I shall not put on another endorsement, but I shall make a note of this affair, and if ever you come here again, you shall lose your license altogether, for it will be canceled."

As soon as we were alone, Sir Langham laughed a quiet little chuckling laugh.

"You will never have any more trouble from that fellow. But, how in the world did you get him here?"

When I had told the magistrate my little ruse he nearly choked himself with hilarity.

"'Pon my honor you are a clever girl! Sir Edward may well be proud of you. They ought to have you in the force."

"I am so very much indebted to you, Sir Langham, for all you have done. I hardly know how to thank you sufficiently. I dared not tell poor Papa. He would have been so upset. He would probably never have taken me out with him again."

"Well, well, never mind. You have extricated yourself most properly. The matter was not at all simple. I shall keep the silly little secret of yours, my child, and promise not to blackmail you save for one chaste salute on that charming little hand."

He rose and gallantly raised my hand to his lips.

"Mind and bring your papa next time. This interview will remain dark and between ourselves. Now good bye. We have got through all the summonses today in good time, but there are some applications to which I must attend in person. Next time you come I will have a chop for you-a loin chop, mind, not a chump."

As I passed out, Inspector Walker was waiting in the passage. I gave him my hand to say adieu. He asked if he might accompany me to be quite sure my friend the man with the hare-lip was not in the neighborhood. I gave him permission in a burning glance. He was certainly a fine man.

"I suppose you are always engaged at this branch?"

"Oh, dear no, miss, my duties take me everywhere. Sometimes I have plenty of leisure time at my disposal. It depends."

"Does your leisure ever lead you to the park? I am generally there for my morning stroll at ten, principally in the walk behind the statue of Achilles."

"How odd! So am I-is it just possible I may have the happiness to see you again, Miss L?"

"Quite possible-even tomorrow, if the weather is fine. But I cannot be seen, you know, under such circumstances."

"Of course not. I understand that." He looked down into my face. "I may then hope to see you again. I shall be in plain clothes."

"Yes. Good bye!"