New Ladies tickler

Letter III. Emily to Lucy

Still the same state of dullness and inactivity. My aunt is very kind to me but evidently watches me closely, and, I fancy, seems to distrust me. So, as I have nothing better to tell you, I shall go on with the narrative of my youthful adventures.

You have often heard me talk of Harry. He is a near relation of my aunt's late husband. Having lost both his parents when he was a mere child, and having no near relatives alive, he was taken charge of by my aunt and brought up by her along with me. As we had no other companions of our own age we were, of course, thrown very much together and were upon the most familiar footing.

Although latterly he was sent to school, he used always to spend his holidays with us, so that our intimacy was kept up. At first, while we were children, there was no sort of restriction upon our intercourse with one another. We used to be taken out to walk, and even to bathe together, and in our sports and play our clothes were frequently tumbled and tossed about so as to expose our naked persons to each other. We were therefore perfectly well aware of the distinguishing features of our respective bodies, and while he used to laugh and joke me on my bare little chink, into which he would sometimes try to push his finger, I, in my turn, used to wonder what could be the use of the little funny dangling piece of flesh which hung down between his thighs with a sort of rotund protrusion below, for as yet his little balls had not made their appearance more prominently.

As we began to grow a little older we were, of course, told that it was not proper for boys and girls to see each other naked, and, while he was allowed to bathe by himself, I was taken down to the sea, at first by an attendant, and afterwards by my aunt, and was told to use a bathing gown, which was never dispensed with except on those occasions when my aunt directed me to throw off the useless encumbrance.

But although Harry and I were obliged to yield to this restraint in public, we made no difference in our private amusements, and, when wandering in the woods, which we were allowed to do freely, we continued to indulge ourselves in all those pretty little fondlings and caresses of our naked persons which we had accustomed ourselves to. Harry used often to persuade me to accompany him when he went to bathe, and though I did not dare to join him in venturing into the water for fear of any derangement of my dress or the wetness of my hair betraying me, still, when he came out of the sea with his charming white flesh all glowing with the effects of his exercise, I did not hesitate to afford him my assistance in wiping off the pearly drops which glistened in the sun on every part of his fine soft skin. My caressing hands wandered freely over all his charms, which every day were assuming a more manly appearance.

Latterly, at each successive arrival of his holidays, I was more and more struck with the delightful change which was taking place in his person-and more especially in his lovely little emblem of virility, which was gradually elongating and increasing in bulk, and exhibiting the progressive growth of the curious little appendages, which are so necessary towards consummating the full effect of blissful enjoyment. On some of the last occasions when we were thus pleasantly employed, I was greatly surprised to find that when I kissed, caressed, and fondled the little darling, it swelled out and held up its head erect: and the little rosy tip, which formerly never used to disclose itself except when my wanton fingers stripped the skin from it, now started out from its retreat and seemed to challenge my amorous kisses and bites. He too, in his turn, seemed to take a greater delight in caressing me. He would lay me down beside him, and while my hands wandered with pleasure over his naked form and played every manner of trick with him, he would throw up my petticoats and, not unwillingly on my part, would expose as much of my person to his gaze as he could possibly manage, and feast his eyes with the sight, and gratify his lascivious fingers with the touch of all my young charms. Of course, the centre spot was the great object of his attention. He kissed and fondled and played with it in every manner that he could devise. He used, however, to complain that it had not grown in an equal proportion with his own manly weapon, and that his finger was unable to penetrate any further or more easily than it used to do. We were both at that time utterly ignorant of the delicious mode of procuring pleasure which you afterwards so kindly and so sweetly taught me.

I need hardly say, however, that our mutual lascivious touches gave us very great pleasure and enjoyment, but at the same time it was always pleasure of an insufficient and unsatisfactory description. We felt that something was wanting, but what that something was, we as yet knew not, and we had hardly reached sufficient maturity for nature to teach us of its own accord.

I certainly enjoyed greatly the pleasing sensations occasioned by his attempting to put his finger into my little aperture, for as yet the idea of putting in anything else had never occurred to us, but at the same time when he attempted to thrust it any distance up the narrow opening, it hurt and frightened me so much that I never dared to allow him to explore its recesses as far as he wished.

Of course, on the footing on which we were, I had no secrets from him, and he was soon made aware of my aunt's frolics in the water with me, and of the strange adventure I had witnessed when Maria was flogged. He was greatly affected by what I told him of the latter procedure, and expressed the strongest wish to be able to enjoy the gratification of witnessing such a scene. Had I been of a jealous nature I might have been displeased with the eagerness and keenness he displayed on hearing my description of the charms of the naked persons of my aunt and Maria, but so far from being dissatisfied, I loved him too much not to wish to contribute in any manner I could to his pleasure and amusement. I was therefore easily induced to promise to give him any assistance in my power to enable him to indulge his curiosity. But, alas, the result was very different from what we anticipated, and, to him at least, much less satisfactory than we could have desired.

One day, when I was aware that Mr. Everard had been absent from home for some time and that there was consequently no chance of his being at his hiding place near our bathing station, I showed Harry where he might conceal himself so as to have a full view of all that passed while we were in the water. He accordingly stationed himself in the ambush, but on this occasion my aunt did not indulge in any of our usual frolics, and the only opportunity he had of seeing us in a state of nudity was for a minute or two while we dried ourselves and changed our dresses.

Disappointed in this, and more inflamed by the glimpse he had caught of the attractive beauties of my aunt's person, he returned to his post on the following day and persuaded me to play some tricks with my aunt, to induce her to amuse herself in the manner I had described to him she was accustomed to do.

I was afraid of exciting suspicion by doing this, but he was so urgent that I consented. Accordingly when I got into the water, letting my bathing gown fly open I began to frolic with my aunt, throwing the water upon her, and trying to excite her to punish me in the usual manner, so as to give me the opportunity of retaliating upon her. At first, however, she did not seem at all inclined to join in the sport, but after a little, I observed her cast a sharp glance at the thicket, where there was a slight rustling among the bushes. I was sadly afraid that Harry would be discovered, but I was soon relieved of my apprehension by my aunt encouraging my playful tricks. Very soon we were both quite naked, and busily employed in applying the fresh birch to each other's posteriors.

After indulging in this amusement for some time we dressed and returned to the house. Just as we were approaching it, I was surprised to see Mr. Everard coming towards us. My aunt also seemed somewhat astonished, and, after speaking apart to him for a few minutes, asked him to return to the house with me saying that she would be with us in a few minutes. I was now dreadfully alarmed, for I at once suspected what was really the case-that my aunt, on seeing the movement in the thicket, had supposed it was Mr. Everard, who, she knew, was to return that day, and now finding he had not been there, she had returned to discover who had taken his place.

I had no doubt she would discover poor Harry. I would have given the world to have been able to give him warning to keep out of sight, but I could devise no pretext for leaving Mr. Everard, who had evidently received instructions to keep me in sight. I was therefore obliged to return to the house, where we remained in the drawing room till my aunt joined us. I saw her coming across the lawn, and went to the door as if to meet her, when I heard her desire the servant to tell Mr. Henry that she wished to see him in her boudoir as soon as he came in. I had no doubt but that he must have been discovered, and I returned to the drawing room in the greatest uneasiness, for I already began to have some unpleasant suspicions as to how the matter was likely to terminate.

I afterwards discovered that as I had supposed, my aunt's suspicions were aroused, and as she knew the grounds perfectly, she had returned to a spot from which she could observe any one issuing from the thicket in question. She had not waited long before she espied poor Harry, who, little suspecting that any lookout was kept upon him, was walking quietly away with the intention of returning to the house as if from a different direction.

My aunt made no-attempt to conceal herself, and on seeing her alone and evidently watching him, Harry soon suspected that he had been found out. He was sadly at a loss to know to what to do. But as he is a bold courageous boy, he was not long in making up his mind to face the worst. “All she can do to me,” he said to himself, “is to give me a flogging, and after all, the sight I have seen is well worth paying such a price for.” I strongly suspect, however, that he did not anticipate the magnitude of the price he was to pay.

Soon after my aunt came in, I made some excuse to retire to my own room. I was afraid she might have directed me to remain with Mr. Everard, but she said nothing and took no notice of me nor of what had occurred. I left my door open and listened till I heard Harry come in. I wanted sadly to speak to him, but as he followed the servant immediately to the boudoir, I had no opportunity. I then heard my aunt leave the drawing room and proceed to her own room, so I hastened to pass into the store closet that I might ascertain and get a view of what I now apprehended was going to take place.

On entering the boudoir, Lady Lovesport locked the door towards the passage, and then came straight up to where Harry was standing in the middle of the room. He was very pale, but he had a resolute composed aspect, as if he had made up his mind to endure the worst that could happen to him. “So, you young rascal,” she said to him, “is this the return you make to me for all my kindness to you, that I cannot go with my niece to bathe but you must play the spy upon us? What have you to say for yourself? Can you venture to deny your shameful conduct?” Harry cast his eyes down when she began to address him, but said nothing while she continued to upbraid him for his disgraceful proceeding.

Finding that he did not attempt to deny his fault or justify himself, but maintained what she called a stubborn silence, she announced her intention to flog him for his misconduct. She said that her first intention had been to send him off instantly, and never to see him again; but that, on further reflection, she had determined to try the effect of a sound flogging in the hope that it might cure him of such naughty practices for the future. She told him that she had no wish to expose his shameful conduct and his disgrace to the servants; but she was determined that he should not escape punishment, and if he did not submit to it quietly, Mr. Everard was in the house and she would call him to assist her in any manner that might be necessary. Here Harry's pride was roused, and he answered boldly that he knew he had done wrong and was sorry he had offended her, and was willing to submit to any punishment she might choose to inflict, but that neither Mr. Everard nor any servant should ever flog him or assist in holding him to be flogged, even if they should kill him.

Lady Lovesport seemed not a little surprised at this exhibition of spirit, but it did not appear to displease her and she said more mildly that if he was willing to submit to any punishment quietly, she would not do anything to hurt his feelings unnecessarily, but that if he made the least resistance she would immediately call in assistance, whatever might be the consequences. She then produced a large birch rod, and told him to take down his trousers. But here again his spirit broke out, and he said modestly that he would make no resistance to anything she might do to him, but that he did not think he ought to be punished in that manner for indulging a very natural curiosity, and he would not be a party to anything that implied his acquiescence in the punishment. Lady Lovesport still showed no symptom of being offended at his coolness, but quietly told him that the more trouble he gave her, the more severe his punishment would be. To this his only reply was that he could not help it. Here the colloquy ended, and she then proceeded to action.

She first removed his jacket and waistcoat, and taking hold of his arms, placed them behind his back, and bound them firmly together. While she was doing this I thought I saw Harry hesitating. Whether he thought of resisting or remonstrating I cannot tell, but after a short struggle he seemed to make up his mind to let her take her own way entirely. She then took another handkerchief and proceeded to blindfold him. This took Harry quite by surprise, as he had entirely forgotten what I had told him had taken place with Maria. But it prepared me for what next occurred-the appearance of Mr. Everard from the adjoining bedroom, the door of which had been left open. He came in softly and sat down on the sofa, before which the other two were standing. I believe Harry would have objected to the bandaging of his eyes if he could have helped it, but having allowed Lady Lovesport to fasten his hands he was now at her mercy and could offer no resistance, and where that was the case he was too proud to remonstrate. I noticed that she gave a pull at his neckerchief and loosened the knot which fastened it, so that it soon fell off, upon which she made some pretext far putting her hand to his neck, and apparently accidentally unfastened his jacket. Then leading him to a sofa in the centre of the boudoir, she made him kneel up over the raised end of the couch so as to support his head, then her busy hands unbuttoned his trousers, pulled them down to his heels, and tucked up his shirt round his waist till I could see his bottom, and everything.

The culprit being ready, Mr. Everard came silently from his seat, and with his assistance her clothes seemed to drop off as if by magic, till she stood in chemise, stockings, and boots only. She now took up a swinging rod and commenced to whip the bold Harry very soundly as her lover, standing behind her back, embraced her in his arms with one hand raising her chemise whilst the other tickled her lovely slit in front-which was fully exposed to my view.

She evidently hurt him very much, as I could hear him give a suppressed moan and wince at every cut, till she suddenly changed her plan, and seating herself on the sofa, drew his body over her naked thighs. She faced directly towards the store closet, whilst Harry also turned his face in that direction. I could therefore distinctly perceive by the increased flush on his handsome countenance and the pleased expression of the mouth that he seemed even to press further forward, as if to make the lower part of his belly and his thighs participate in such an agreeable contact. Lady Lovesport seemed to have no objection to this proceeding on his part, and changing the position of her left arm, she placed her hand under his breast beyond her knee so as to afford support to the upper part of his body, and while she administered some rather sharp blows to his posteriors, she rather encouraged him to press forward, so that in a very short time his belly and thighs were rubbing against her naked thigh.

Up to this moment Harry had kept himself perfectly still, never moving a single limb and only showing by the quivering of the flesh when the blows were applied, and the working of the muscles of the surrounding parts when the rod fell on his lovely bottom, that he felt the pain when occasionally a sharper or more stringent blow than usual fell upon him. But now he began to yield to a new sensation, whether of pain or of pleasure I could not at first very well discover, but probably it was a mixture of both.

It was certainly not a shrinking from the punishment, for when the rod fell on his posteriors he remained perfectly still to meet it, but the moment after it fell, as if it had communicated some stimulus which it was impossible for him to resist, he thrust his buttocks forward, pressing with all his force against the pleasing soft substance upon which the front of his person rested. When this began to take place I saw an intelligent smile pass between Lady Lovesport and Mr. Everard, as if they well understood and appreciated this strange, and to me mysterious and unaccountable, proceeding, but which, however, they both seemed to enjoy.

The posture, however, in which she was placed seemed to be too fatiguing for Lady Lovesport to indulge in any longer. She therefore took her knee from the sofa, and made Harry stand upright. She then tucked his shirt up round his waist and continued to flog away at his posteriors. This proceeding disclosed to me the lovely little object with which I had so often toyed and played. But what was my surprise in beholding the state it was in. I had expected that the effect of the punishment and the pain he must be suffering would have been to make it shrink up, and that it would have been reduced to the smallest possible dimensions. To my great astonishment it appeared standing up erect and swelled out to even greater dimensions than I had ever before seen it, with its rosy head boldly throwing off its usual covering, and distended to a most unusual extent.

Its appearance seemed to excite surprise and admiration as well as to conduce to the amusement of the other spectators. Lady Lovesport seemed to regard it with a pleased and interested expression, while Mr. Everard was obliged to stuff his handkerchief into his mouth to prevent his giving audible expression to his feelings of amusement as he pointed first to the little champion thus holding up his head in so bold a manner, and then to my aunt's centre of pleasure, in a provokingly malicious manner, as if he meant to insinuate that there ought to be some connection between them. The meaning of this puzzled me a good deal. But my aunt only replied with a frown and a shake of the head.

Lady Lovesport seemed now apparently to think that this mode of proceeding might excite some suspicion in the boy's mind, for taking him up in her arms, she laid him down on his belly on the sofa, and continued to flog away at him in this position. His trousers were still around his legs, and prevented him from moving them about much. But on a signal from Mr. Everard, my aunt pulled them off and continued her operation, plying the rod upon almost every portion of his naked body. She seemed to take a peculiar delight in varying the scene of operation, and I could occasionally see her smile at the effect produced, especially when a sharp blow in some unexpected quarter caused him to start, or move his body so as to display to view some new charm of his lovely person.

Every now and then, when his legs were a little apart, she would touch with a lively hand-though I must own not severely-the tender surface between the thighs. The twisting and heaving of his buttocks into all manner of strange contortions which followed, and the lascivious postures he thus unconsciously exhibited, seemed to afford her the most intense delight.

At length the boiling passions of the poor boy seemed to be completely roused by the irritating treatment he had received, and he could not refrain from jerking his buttocks backwards and forwards, rubbing his belly against the cushions of the sofa upon which he rested as his body stirred about thus convulsively, agitated under the strong stimulus of the blows of the sharp twigs which still continued to be poured down upon him. By this time the whole surface of his hinder quarters, from the small of his back down to his knees, was glowing with a beautiful reddy tint, and though Lady Lovesport had taken care not to strike so forcibly as to break the skin, it was quite evident from his uneasy motions that the whole of the inflamed flesh was in a most tender and irritable state.

During the latter part of the operation I had observed that Mr. Everard had become very restless and uneasy, and that as he moved about Lady Lovesport, holding up her petticoats and putting his hands upon her thighs and buttocks, he was playing with her many of those tricks which I had often done to Harry, and he to me. He more than once made signals to Lady Lovesport, as if he wished her to stop. At last she complied with his request, and Mr. Everard returned to the bedroom.

Lady Lovesport immediately adjusted her own dress and then removed the bandage from Harry's eyes and untied his hands, telling him she hoped the punishment he had now received would be a lesson to him and would make him learn in future to behave himself with greater propriety.

The audacious Harry, who was still lying on his belly on the sofa, and who had not hitherto spoken a word since the commencement of his punishment, now turned himself slowly on his side, and looked intently at her. His shirt had been firmly tucked up round his waist, so that he was almost perfectly naked, exhibiting his funny little plaything with its red head fully exposed, and more swollen and extended, and apparently more excited and fierce, than ever. He very coolly said that he did not mind the punishment a bit, and did not care how often he received it, but that he was very sorry he had done anything to offend her, and he hoped that she would forgive him, and he would try never to do anything for the future to displease her.

Lady Lovesport blushed considerably at the free exposure of his person, which he thus so coolly made before her, but she pretended not to notice it, and said that if he would be a good boy for the future she would pass over this act of misconduct. She then told him to get up and dress himself. Harry replied that as she had taken off his clothes he thought she ought to put them on again; but she told the young rascal to take care how he conducted himself, as, if she had to punish him a second time, she would not let him off again so easily, and immediately left the room.

Harry began to dress himself, and I noticed that he several times looked at and felt the stiff little object-which still continued to project from him in such a strange manner-as if he was as much surprised at its condition as I was.

As soon as he left the room, I withdrew from my hiding place, and, not finding Harry in the sitting room, I fancied he must have gone to his own apartment. As my aunt had not left her room I thought I might venture to pay a visit to Harry's apartment to ask him how he felt, and whether he had really suffered very much during his punishment. I slipped into the room and found him sitting on a sofa with his trousers open, examining the little instrument that had so much interested me. I sat down beside him, and in answer to my questions he told me that beyond the first few minutes, during which he felt the blows of the birch sting and smart him a good deal, he had not endured much pain, and that after a while the strokes merely created a most uneasy itching sensation in the part affected and a hot irritable feeling through all his body, which was like to drive him wild, and which had made him move and toss himself about in the manner I had witnessed.

I insisted on his taking down his trousers altogether, and letting me see exactly the state of matters, which he willingly agreed to. I found all his usually fine white skin still suffused with a most lovely carmine colour, but I was shocked to observe a large portion, especially the fleshy part of his posteriors, raised in long narrow weals from the effects of the sharp application of the elastic twigs. When I put my hand to them and pressed them, he said he felt no pain in them now, but merely the greatest irritation and twitching. But he said that it was a strange thing that he felt this curious sensation even more intensely in the front part of his person, which had not suffered from the punishment, than in that part which had been most subjected to it. This accounted to me in some measure for the state in which I had observed his little plaything to be, and taking hold of it, I asked him if it did not feel sore when it was stretched out so stiff as it then was. He said no, that it was not sore at all, but that it felt as if it was almost going to burst, though it was a pleasant and not a painful feeling.

As I continued to play with it, he laid himself back on the sofa, and his buttocks began to move up and down again, somewhat in the way they had done when he was leaning against Lady Lovesport's thighs. I could not refrain from yielding; after kissing it repeatedly, I took the rosy knob, which presented itself so charmingly to my caresses, between my lips, and pressed and sucked it. He expressed the greatest delight at this, and said it soothed and relieved him so much that he begged I would continue it.

This I was quite willing to do. I was kneeling on the sofa beside him, and his hands had been for some time wandering under my petticoats, and playing with all my naked charms. He now drew me towards him, and turning my petticoats over my back, he made me kneel astride him as he lay on the sofa, with his face upwards, in such a position that my little aperture was exactly over his mouth. He placed a pillow under his head, so as to raise it sufficiently to enable him to kiss and fondle love's grotto, into the narrow entrance of which he tried to insert his tongue.

As I found that the darling object I was playing with was so greatly swollen and increased in size that I could not, as formerly, get the whole of it within my mouth, I grasped the lower part of it with my fingers, and every time the delicious object heaved upwards between my lips, I pressed my hand gently down along the throbbing shaft, which slipped through my grasp in the most pleasing manner.

This proceeding drew from Harry the most ardent expressions of delight and satisfaction; and I felt his kisses on my centre of bliss increase in ardour and intensity, as he entreated me to continue a movement which was so enchanting to him. Finding him so much gratified by the manner which I was operating upon him, and as his upward heaves were becoming more vigorous and energetic, I pressed the darling object more forcibly in my grasp and met each of his wanton thrusts with a firmer impression upon it, and allowed the rosy head to slip as far as possible within my mouth, tickling it at the same time with my tongue, which I made to circle round the sweet slippery morsel. This pleasing though irritating movement was kept up for several minutes, while his maddening heaves every moment increased in intensity and fury, and his hands, pressed upon my buttocks with a firm grasp, drew me closer and closer to his burning lips till at length he suddenly stopped short in the midst of an upward heave, at the very moment when his buttocks were fairly raised up from the sofa. In the fury of a more than usually energetic shove, retaining the sensitive plant as far within my mouth as he could force it, he exclaimed, “Oh! stop, stop! I can't bear it any longer. Oh, oh!” His head sank on the cushion, his hands lost their hold upon my buttocks, and a universal shiver agitated his whole body, which he continued to press forcibly upwards as if to retain and enjoy to the utmost the grasp of pleasure which I kept up upon his lovely weapon with my fingers as well as with my mouth.

A second or two elapsed, during which he was evidently in a paroxysm of delight, when I felt a strange throb pass over the excited weapon, quite different from anything I had seen in previous experience. It seemed as if something was being driven through it, from the bottom to the top. The next instant I was sensible of two or three drops of a warm liquid being forcibly ejaculated from it into my mouth.

I was greatly astonished at all this, but, as it was quite evident that the whole proceeding afforded the darling boy the most intense satisfaction and enjoyment, I continued my operations, sucking and softly squeezing the delightful instrument which was affording him so much pleasure. To this he responded with one or two gentle heaves and then, as if exhausted with the exertions he had made, his body sank down on the sofa motionless.

I was so surprised and bewildered by what had taken place that I remained in the same position, still retaining my hold of the now motionless prisoner, but in the course of another minute or two, I was still more astonished by finding that the hitherto stiff and rigid member which I had been so fondly caressing entirely lost its firmness, and slipped out of my mouth quite soft and flexible, sinking down upon his belly, shrivelled up almost to nothing. I was anxious to know what it was I had felt issue from it into my mouth, and on applying my handkerchief I found a small quantity of a thick white glutinous liquid, and on looking attentively, I discovered a little of the same stuff, still issuing from the funny little orifice at the very point of the curious object I had been playing with.

I looked up to Harry's face to enquire what was the meaning of all t-his, when I found him lying with his eyes shut, evidently in a perfect trance of voluptuous delight. I had not the heart to disturb him, but, throwing my arms round his neck and fondly embracing him, I waited patiently till he should come to himself again.

When he did so, he warmly returned my caresses, thanking me in the most earnest terms for all the pleasure I had given him, which he declared it was utterly impossible for him to describe to me so as to give me any correct idea of its nature. To my enquiries as to what was the meaning of all that had occurred, he replied that he was as ignorant as I was, and that the whole affair had taken him as much by surprise as it had done me. All he could say was that it was the most delicious enjoyment he had ever experienced, and that he could never have imagined anything comparable to it.

He was greatly surprised when I told what had issued from the little plaything, and would hardly believe me until we again examined it, and by squeezing it, made it yield up the last remains of the curious liquid. He said he had been sensible towards the end of a fiery sensation darting through him, affording him the most intense delight, but what it was, or how it was occasioned, he could not understand.

The suddenly relaxed state of the little object itself was also equally inexplicable to us, but he said that all the fiery heat and burning excitement which he had previously felt had now left him. Altogether we were greatly puzzled with the adventure, but we had not a long time to discuss it, for I heard my aunt's voice and was obliged to leave him for fear of discovery.

Whether my aunt suspected that I had been in any way privy to Harry's daring intrusion upon the sanctity of our bathing place, I cannot tell. She never alluded to the subject to me. Though we continued as usual after this to take our daily bath, she never after this indulged in any of her former frolics with me.

The time for Harry returning to school arrived a day or two after this adventure, and previous to his departure we had no opportunity of seeing each other except in the presence of other parties. Since that memorable occasion we have only met by accident once or twice, when it was impossible for us to have any private intercourse. We have, however, contrived occasionally to keep up a correspondence by letter, and though his expressions are necessarily very guarded I have reason to believe that he is still as fond of me as ever. You know well how ardently I love him, and how much I long for an opportunity of meeting him that we may again indulge in all our old sports and pastimes, and put in practice all those still greater and higher enjoyments which you have described to me, and in which I have no doubt he is by this time as well instructed as I am, and for which, doubtless, he longs as much as I do. All I shall say is that although I shall not give him any ground to despise me for being too forward, he shall not meet with any opposition from me in doing anything he may wish.

I ought to mention that I have never again had an opportunity of witnessing any of my aunt's frolics since poor Harry's sad adventure, which terminated so pleasingly. He had obtained a promise from Lady Lovesport that the next time he returned from school he should be put into the third apartment, which communicated with the storeroom, and he had made me give him the key that he might get a similar one for his door, in order that he might be able to communicate with me in this way whenever anything interesting was going on. But as we have never since then been at my aunt's at the same time, we have not had an opportunity of making use of the key together, and though he has offered to send mine back to me, I have had no wish to employ it again unless he were to be present with me.

Ever yours, Emily

PS. Joy! Joy.' Congratulate me, Lucy. I am so delighted. Harry is coming here in the course of two or three days, and I to-day heard my aunt giving orders that the apartment communicating with mine should be prepared for him, so you may guess all the pleasure I anticipate. You need not expect to hear from me for some days, but if things only turn out as I hope and expect, you shall not be long of receiving the good news.