indeed, I may call myself or rather my prick, the pivot on
which their friendship turned, yet there never was the shade of
jealousy on either part, but in these remarks I am anticipating what I
may, perhaps, be hereafter tempted to describe more fully. I give these
letters now, because they immediately refer to the events I am at
present relating. They show the secret working of my loved mistress's
mind, and the voluptuous nature of her temperament, and the
satisfaction that my delicious initiation had given. Her affectionate
and flattering remarks, relating to myself, are greater than I
deserved. The following is the first letter addressed to her friend:

MRS. BENSON TO THE HON. MRS. EGERTON.

Dear Carry,

I am about to keep my promise, and give you an account of our
honeymoon. You, my dear, must be equally faithful, and reply as frankly
as I am now about to write to you.

Two giddier girls than you and I never entered the bonds of matrimony,
or more earnestly longed for the sights connected with it. Well, after
the usual breakfast, we left by rail for Leamington, where we were to
pass our first night. We had a _coupe_ to ourselves; and beyond seating
me on his knee, and kissing me, Fred behaved with much decency and
propriety. We arrived and dined. The hour between tea and bedtime was
sufficiently tedious, as both of us were naturally much preoccupied. My
husband wrote a letter to mamma, telling her of our safe arrival, and
of his intense happiness. After which he asked me if I would go to bed,
in the most matter-of-fact way imaginable. I murmured an affirmative,
scarcely knowing what to say. He rang for a candle, and told me he
would follow shortly. It seemed like a dream to me. The maid showed me
to a room containing a large four-post bedstead, heavily hung with
curtains, and provided with old-fashioned furniture.

I seated myself on the edge of the bed and began to meditate. I sat
thus, for, I dare say, ten minutes, and then commenced undressing. I
had put on my night-gown, and removed everything but my stockings, when
I heard footsteps approach the door. I opened, and my husband entered,
closed it, and turned the key. Oh! Carry, I did feel so funny. I was
undressed in a bedroom with a man, and that man had a right to my
person. He seated himself in an armchair, and drew me on his knee.
Nothing but my thin night-gown separated my bottom from his bare knee,
for he had quite undressed in an adjoining roo