f or saw again, that I
recollect. Two or three years afterwards, I was at the Argyle Rooms. A
woman looked at me, smiled, and pointed me out to another woman, then
came up smiling and said, "Don't you know me?" It was Nelly, who had
become harlot by profession. I was then a poor man, but slept with her
at Brompton. She had heard I had ruined myself. I had her afterwards
once or twice, but soon gave her up. Harlotry was successful with her,
and I could not pay her price. Though she was a swell woman, she did not
want me to pay at all, but I was proud. She always declared that I had
had the first of her, but could not say I was the father of the child.
Mrs. Pender now had a chance. At night there was often no one in the
farm-yard but her, she could therefore go into the barn when she liked.
Her husband finding the dark nights dull went frequently to the village
Public; then I used to enter the big barn from the rick-yard, she having
left the wicket open, and she had a good bombasting on the straw and
hay. But I grew tired of her big belly, liked a bed and nakedness, and
to see and feel in comfort the cunt I was to bestow my attention on.
Fucking on straw was all very well with a new piece. I could generally
not tell her face from her arse, excepting by feel, for of course we had
no light in the barn; so I grew tired, and gave it up.

Then Fred and I went to town, he to see Laura, I to get promiscuous
fucking, and other amusements. Laura who was one of the few women of
her class whom I have found to be well educated, had a female friend
stopping with her from her native place Plymouth. Her name was Mabel,
a pretty modest-looking girl. Laura had given out that she had married
Fred, and this girl had been entrusted to keep her company. I tell the
tale as it was told me. I dined with them daily, and in fact all but
lived there.

One night we went to the theatre, and back to Fred's, had a jolly
supper, and got as merry as sandboys. It was a cold foggy night, I said
I would not go home as it was about three A.M., and would sleep on the
sofa. Our conversation had been pretty warm. Fred remarked that I had
better sleep with Mabel. Laura was surprised at Fred. Mabel laughed, and
baudy insinuations passed without baudy words. Fred said he should go to
bed, and off he went. Laura expected Mabel to go to bed, but she put
it off laughing and joking. Laura got angry, Fred came out in his
night-gown swearing if Laura did not come, he w