the Army. I wanted a change, and went by advice to
stay there. Fred was a year older than me, wild and baudy to the day
of his death, he talked from boyhood incessantly about women. I had not
seen him for some time, and he told me of his amours, asking me about
mine. I let him know all, without disclosing names; he told me in nearly
the words, that it was "a lie," for he had heard my mother say, that
I was the steadiest young fellow possible, and she could trust me
anywhere. This, coupled with my quiet look, and the care I took not to
divulge names, made him disbelieve me; but I disclosed so many facts
about women's nature, that he was somewhat astonished. He told me what
he had done, about having had the clap, and what to do if I got it; then
he had seduced a cottager's daughter on the estate; but his description
of the taking, did not accord with my limited experience. One day he
pointed the girl out to me at the cottage door, and said he now had her
whenever he wanted.

She was a great coarse wench, whom he had seen in my aunt's fields. He
had caught her piddling on one side of a hedge; she saw him looking at
the operation from a ditch, and abused him roundly for it; it ended
in an acquaintance, and his taking her virginity one evening on a
hay-cock,--that was his account of it.

Her father was a labourer on my aunt's estate, the girl lived with him
and a younger sister, her name was Sarah; he expatiated on her charm
from backside to bubbies, but it was soon evident to me, that with this
woman it was no money, no cunt; for he borrowed money of me to give her.
I had squeezed money out of my aunt, my guardian and mother, and had
about ten pounds,--a very large sum for me then, so I lent him a few
shillings.

He had his shove as he called it, and triumphantly gave me again such
account of his operations, and the charms of the lady, that I who
had been some time without poking, wondered if the girl would let me;
arguing to myself, he gives her money--my girls never wanted money,--why
should his? He had been dinning into my ears, that all women would let
men for money, or presents, or else from lust. "Kiss and grope, and if
they don't cry out, show them your prick and go at them." These maxims
much impressed me.

"Fred," said my aunt at breakfast, "ride over to Brown about his rent,
you will be sure to find him at the corn market," and she gave him other
commissions at the market town. I promised to ride with him, but