of her; she still standing with her
hand on my shoulder.

"Have something to drink," said she. "Yes,"--but recollecting myself,
"No, I have no money, I have given you every farthing I have." "Never
mind,--do you like gin?--I do." "Yes." She called out to the landlady,
"Fetch me a shilling's worth of gin, and mind you don't take any,--mind
a shilling's worth fills this bottle to here (giving the landlady a
large medicine bottle), don't take any, and I will give you a little.
I'll pay for the gin," said she turning to me.

I sat looking at the fire. "You have not washed yourself," said she.
"No, are you unwell?" "No, I think I am all right, but we can't always
say you know, and it's best to wash after us,"--and I washed.

I took hot gin and water, and got cheered, even began to smile when she
said, "You are a gentleman, ain't you?" "Yes I think so." "I am sure you
are by your manner, but you are poor I suppose." I told her the entire
truth, my heart was so full, I told this strange gay woman all my
trouble, all my misery, wanted more gin and water, and having in my
pocket a gold pencil-case, a gift of an aunt's, "Get some more gin,"
said I, "take this and pawn it, for I have no money." She would not. "I
am sure, if you say you will bring me the money, that you will. I will
pay for more gin."

So sitting, talking, and drinking gin and water, she sitting opposite to
me listening whilst I told my troubles, and my burst of troubles over,
relieved by my confidences, I became aware that she was plump, fleshy,
good-looking, and had a mild sympathetic eye. Up to that time cunt alone
had fascinated me, now I thought of the woman, and a liking for her
because she seemed kind stole over me; desire to have her, caress her,
spend in her on that account, rather than a desire for her cunt alone,
thrilled through me as I looked at her sitting half facing me by the
fire; her clothes slightly raised, that the warmth might reach her
limbs, one elbow on her knee, the hand supporting her face turned
towards me full of interest. And so an hour or more ran away.

"I want you again so, but I have no more money." "Never mind, you may
have me,--shall I undress?" "Oh! do,--do,--how round and plump you
are,--but I have no more money." "Never mind,--give me more when you see
me again. Come into the bed,--see the sheets are quite clean,--no one
has slept in them, I take the clean ones off every night, and put on
others before I go to bed,--stop w