s; and kept me in health. It
seems surprising to me now, how little I seemed to have thought of baudy
attitudes, and lascivious varieties; for belly-to-belly poking on the
bed, was nearly all I did. I had still the modest, demure, demeanour
which deceived my mother (coupled with her ignorance of life generally)
and relations, and though very proud of my achievements, kept them much
to myself, never disclosing the names of my women, and only telling one
or two intimate friends of what I had done; who reciprocated by telling
me their achievements. Fucking had eased my prepuce. I made a practice
of pulling it backward and forward several times a day; in fact whenever
I piddled. My prick had grown bigger in the two years, which pleased me
much, but about the size of it I had a curious doubt, which will be told
of further on.

I was though demure, quite a man in manner and looks, and with women
behaved in a way which one or two of my relatives remarked. I used to
think to myself when talking to them, "Ah! I know what sort of opening
you have at the bottom of your belly." The cousins whose cunts I had had
a partial glimpse of, I used to like to dance with, wondering how much
the hair had grown on them. I used also to think about my sister's
cunt that I had seen when in the cradle, but just then she died. My
experience indeed much increased the charm of female society to me.

Chance had given me two virgins out of four women, that was a luxury
unthought of, uncared for, and in no way appreciated; the virgins were
no more liked by me than the others.

Cousin Fred will appear at less frequent intervals, he was away
sometimes for months, then for years, but he is named whenever he played
an important part in my adventures,--he was participator in others which
will never be written about here.

CHAPTER VIII.

Fanny Hill.--Masturbation.--Friend Henry.--Under street-
gratings at the gunmaker's.--A frigging match.--Sights from
below.--In a back street.--A prick in petticoats.--
Evacuations.--Ladies scared.

I went back to London, and resumed my preparations. Penniless, I tried
to get money from my mother, but could not. I tried to feel our ugly
housemaid, who threatened to tell. Just then a friend lent me _Fanny
Hill_, how well I recollect that day, it was a sunshiny afternoon,
I devoured the book and its luscious pictures, and although I never
contemplated masturbation, lost all command of myself, fr