ld, Laura. It would be so nice to lie in your arms all
night."

"Well, darling, I will ask Mrs. B--. I have no doubt that she will give
her consent."

The lovely girl drew me towards her and gave me a warmer kiss than she
had ever before bestowed upon me. The contact of her easy lips to mine
sent an indefinable thrill through my body which I had never
experienced before. In the evening she informed me that she had spoken
to Mrs. B--and that the latter had consented that we should sleep
together. I was overjoyed at this news and longed for night to come so
that I might recline in my darling's arms.

At last the hour of bedtime arrived and I followed Laura to her
chamber. She put the lamp on the dressing table and, kissing me
affectionately, bade me undress myself quickly. We began our toilette
for the night. I was undressed first, and having put on my nightgown, I
sat down on the side of the bed and watched Laura disrobing herself.
After she had removed her dress and her petticoats, I could not help
being struck with her resplendent charms. Her chemise had fallen off
her shoulder, beautifully rounded, and two globes of alabaster reposing
on a field of snow. She appeared to be entirely unaware that I was
watching her, for she sat down on a chair exactly in front of me, and
crossing one leg over the other, she began to remove her garters and
stockings. This attitude raised her chemise in front, and allowed me to
have a full view of her magnificently formed limbs. I even caught sight
of her voluptuous thighs. Laura caught my eye.

"What are you gazing at so earnestly?" she asked.

"I am gazing at your beauties, Laura."

"One would think that you were my lover," returned Laura laughingly.

"So I am, dear--for you know I love you."

"You little witch you, you know well enough what I mean. But if you
want to admire beauty, why not look in the glass, for I am not nearly
as beautiful as you are, dear Kate."

"What nonsense, Laura," I replied, "but come, let us get into bed."

So saying, I jumped between the sheets and was followed almost
immediately by Laura, who first, however, placed the lamp on a chair by
the bedside. She clasped me in her arms and pressed me to her breast,
while she kissed my lips, cheek and eyes passionately. The warmth of
her embraces and her glowing limbs entwined in mine caused a strange
sensation to steal through me. My cheeks burned and I returned her
kisses with an ardor that equalled her