remove all social distinctions, and I had done it
without uttering at first a smutty word.
Jenny's sister went on chaffing, and drank ale freely. "Oh! I dare say,
but why don't _you_ have children?" "I can't get any I tell you, but I
try." "Not much at home," said she, "from all I have heard." "No I try
out as well, and get none,--I'm a safe man." Then I found she knew a
lot about me and my affairs; She had actually worked at my house on some
curtains, had seen me once, and knew my voice, though for the moment she
had not recollected my face with my hat on when I entered the door that
afternoon. But I had never seen her at my house to my knowledge, though
if I had I was not likely to have noticed a common upholstress.
We went on chaffing, looking in each other's faces, each knowing we were
talking about fucking. "Well Mrs.------ playing at mother and father's
a delicious amusement, is it not?" "I don't know." "If you don't
know we'd better try,--I'd give five pounds to be your husband for
an hour,--and five pounds would buy you anew dress." "It would buy me
three," said she without noticing the other part of my remark. "Three?"
"Yes three,--I can't afford more than thirty shillings for a best
dress." "Really!--such a beautiful creature as you ought to have plenty
of dress, for I have rarely seen a more lovely woman, and so well
grown,--I'll bet you have fine limbs." She was flattered, the praise
upset her, her eyes tinkled. Yes she might have done better she knew,
but it was to be. I went close to her, caught and kissed her. She made
not too strong a resistance, but got away. "That's going a little too
far." "That's the beginning of a game at mother and father, and you are
going to have the three dresses." She laughed in a funny way. "I don't
want to be a mother any more, so I don't want any games." But she seemed
to me to look as if she did.
What did she get for stopping at the house? Five shillings a week, and
her supper and breakfast,--that was an object. "Five shillings?--why
my kiss was worth that,--let me give you another, and I'll give you
ten shillings for the two." "You don't mean that," said she with a low
laugh. "On my soul yes,--but you must give me a kiss as well." She
shook her head. "It's going too far," said she. "There it is, I'll trust
you,--you won't take it without letting me." She was then sitting. I put
the half sovereign into her hand. "Thank you sir," said she softly. I
kissed her rapturous
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