if deeply interested
in the matter, was pinching Pender's bum as she stood besides my aunt.
"How hot you are Pender," said my aunt looking at the woman. "It is
hot ma'am," she replied, perspiration streaming down her face. How very
uncomfortable she looked.

At breakfast aunt said, "What do you think Walter has been to the dairy
with me." "Lor'!" said my lady cousins, "that is wonderful; he to get
up so early!" "Have you had that dairy-maid long, aunt?" "Why don't
you recollect she was housemaid here once?" "No." Then aunt told the
history, which till then I did not know.

At the time of my unsuccessful attempt at a feel, she was engaged to
a young man; they quarrelled, he left the village to go for a soldier,
came back; again a quarrel, and again off he went. After a time he wrote
to say, he meant to marry another girl. Pender was in great grief. Just
then a head-man on the estate, about fifty-five years old, offered her
marriage, and in a reckless state of mind, she accepted him. Directly
afterwards her sweetheart came back, his statement was a false-hood,
told to try her. It was too late, and he went to America. "She is a very
nice, steady woman," said aunt, "they lead a quiet life, but I don't
think she is very happy, twenty-three and fifty-five are not a good
match."

Food was sent to some of the farm-laborers at a meadow half-a-mile off.
I had the pleasure of seeing my cousins, aunt, and two of the female
servants in big straw hats, go off to the field. They thought haymaking
good fun. I promised to join them, and directly they were out of sight
cut off to Pender, dodged all round the rick-yard to see if I was alone,
and found her tranquilly churning butter. The stable still appeared
the best place. Thither we went, and for the first time quietly, so to
speak, I saw the article, and all its surroundings, which had given me
several pleasures; and after fucking her I went to join my aunt, as I
had promised her.

I had soon enough of hay-making myself, so laid down in the shade
watching the hay-makers (nearly all women). As they moved along in rows,
lewd thoughts occupied my mind. One biggish woman attracted my notice by
her magnificent white teeth; looking at her short petticoats, and thick
legs, lewdness increased to a cock-stand. I stared so as she approached
me, that she could not fail to notice it. "It's hot," said I. "It be
sir." She stooped with her bum towards me, and lying down as I was, I
saw nearly to