It could not have been a man who slept there, for the men servants slept
on the ground-floor, I have seen their beds there.

The night I speak of, my bed was taken out, and put into the Chinese
paper room, one of the maids who helped to move it, sat on the pot and
piddled; I heard the rattle, and as far as I can recollect it was the
first time I noticed anything of the sort, tho I recollect well seeing
women putting on their stockings and feeling the thigh of one of them
just above her knee. I was kneeling on the floor at the time, and had a
trumpet, which she took angrily out of my hand soon afterwards, because
I made a noise.

I recollect the dance, that I danced with a tall lady, that my mother
contrary to custom as it seems to me, put me to bed herself, and that it
was before the dance was over, for I felt angry and tearful at being put
to bed so early. My mother closed the curtains quite tightly all round
a small four post bed, and told me, I was to lie quietly, and not get up
till she came to me in the morning; not to speak, nor undo my curtains,
nor to get out of bed, or I should disturb Mr. and Mrs. ------ who were
to sleep in the big bed; that it would make them angry if I did. I am
almost certain she named a lady and her husband, who were going to stay
with us; but can't be sure. A man then frightened me more than a woman,
my mother I dare say knew that.

I dare say, for it was the same the greater part of my life, that I went
to sleep directly I laid down, usually never awaking till the morning.
Certainly I must have gone fast asleep that night; perhaps I had had
a little wine given me, who knows; I have a sudden consciousness of a
light, and hear some one say, he is fast asleep, don't make a noise;
it seemed like my mother's voice. I rouse myself and listen, the
circumstances are strange, the room strange, it excites me, and I rise
on my knees, I don't know whether naturally, or cautiously, or
how; perhaps cautiously, because I fear angering my mother, and the
gentleman, perhaps a sexual instinct makes me curious, though that
is not probable. I have not in fact the slightest conception of the
actuating motive, but I sat up and listened. There were two females
talking, laughing quietly, and moving about, I heard a rattling in the
pot, then a rest, then again a rattle and knew the sound of piddling.
How long I listened, I don't know, I might have dozed and awakened
again, I saw lights moved about; then I c