two others of my queens.

Louisa was again taken ill,--the consequence of her miscarriage, and of
the measures taken to bring that on I was told. She got worse and worse,
and was in great danger; she never wrote to me, but often to Hannah, and
her letters which I saw always referred to me affectionately; above all
she wanted to know what ladies I had at J...s Street. Hannah winking at
me used to say, "I'd like to know where you put it away now,--it's put
somewhere." I had taken no women to that house; but laughing said I was
chaste. Hannah did not believe that, so I said I frigged myself. "You
don't spill it about in that way," said she, "let me feel it,"--and she
put her hand outside my clothes on to my tool. "Oho!--oho!--oho!" said
she, for I stiffened. Then she brought me her accounts to cast up, and
when it was done, "I shall take a nap," said she, "you go now, for I
expect Mrs. ------ and a strange lady" (I had looked in casually that
morning),--and getting on to the bed she laid down showing her legs
liberally, and looking at me all the time. "Good bye," I said, and left;
but have thought since that Hannah wanted me to have her. She never
before or since looked at me in that way, nor behaved with such freedom
when we were alone.

Her bed was as I have I think already told, in the front-parlour in
J...s Street, and in an alcove, as many beds are in French hotels and
houses; and when the curtains were drawn across it, the bed was entirely
hidden.

And then when without a woman at my command, and with a frequent need
for one, another piece of luck befell me. The way had been paved for it
before Louisa was so ill.

CHAPTER XVI.

A friend's maid-servant.--Jenny.--Initial familiarity.--A
bum pinched.--Jenny communicative.--Her young man.--An
attempt, a failure, a faint, a look, and a sniff.--
Restoratives.

I knew an elderly couple who were childless, and lived in a nice little
house in the suburbs with, a long garden in front, and one at the back
as well; they were in comfortable but moderate circumstances, and kept
two servants only. Every year they went to the seaside, taking one
servant with them, and leaving the other at home to look after the
house; and usually some one to take charge of it with her. This year
they asked if I would when I passed the house (as I frequently did) call
in, and see if all was going properly, for the housemaid left in charge
was young, and her sister, a