large sum then) was the usual cost of Paris to me, I
declined, and to the old Hall went with mother.

I did not see nursemaid or page. "You have a new nursemaid for Joey,"
said I to my aunt. "We dismissed the other, we found her to be an
improper character,--and Robert has gone,--he was too big," said she.
For two or three days I could not get Pender, who looked miserable when
I met her, shook her head, and looked up to the skies. I went with my
mother and aunt to the farm one day, Pender for a second stopped behind,
and said to me in a hurried whisper, "I _am_ in the family way," and
then ran after my aunt.

Next day I saw her for a second. "Meet me next Sunday at------." "I
must," said she. We had no opportunity of speaking before, for her
husband or some one was always in the way. To make sure I next day
slipped an envelope into her hand, in which was one addressed to myself,
and a scribble asking her to say where I was to meet her. It came back
by post containing in execrable writing the words, "My dear, same time,
and place, if he be out, on Saturday night." I did not comprehend, but
waited outside her cottage that night. She did not show. On Sunday I
went to ------, and long after eleven she appeared. Soon we were in the
room over the beer-shop.

"I am in the family way, whatever shall I do?" I had thought over this,
and replied, "Well, you have a husband, so it does not matter." "I don't
think he will believe it's his." "He can't say it is not, and will be
proud of it." "That may be true, I did not think of that," said she, and
until I had fucked her I learn't no more.

I referred to the change in the servants at the Hall. "Oh!" said Pender
eagerly, "there has been a row; do you recollect the nursemaid?--well
they saw her feeling--hoh! hoh!"--she burst out laughing,--"feeling
the page's thing,--hoh! ho! ho!" "Feeling his prick?" "Yes,--ho! ho!
ho!--and Missus turned her and page out the same night,--ho! ho! ho!"
laughed Pender. "She was a dirty hussy." "Why?" "Why a woman like that
to be taking liberties with a boy like that, a hobble-de-hoy; poor Molly
told me that one day when he came here he pulled out his thing before
her." "What, Molly?" said I, thinking the young girl had had manifold
temptations. "Yes, poor thing." "Why poor thing?" "Well I am sorry for
her; I told Missus about the young squire as you told me, and Missus
told her mother to look sharp after her,--and so she did, and found that
she used