r kind of
perversion to its logical conclusions. It is, therefore, among the upper
ranks, alike of society and of prostitution, that Lesbianism is most
definitely to be met with, for here we have much greater liberty of
action, and much greater freedom from prejudices."

With girls, as with boys, it is in the school, at the evolution of
puberty, that homosexuality usually first shows itself. It may originate
in a way mainly peripheral or mainly central. In the first case, two
children, perhaps when close to each other in bed, more or less
unintentionally generate in each other a certain amount of sexual
irritation, which they foster by mutual touching and kissing. This is a
spurious kind of homosexuality, the often precocious play of the normal
instinct. In the girl who is congenitally predisposed to homosexuality it
will continue and develop; in the majority it will be forgotten as quickly
as possible, not without shame, in the presence of the normal object of
sexual love.

I may quote as fairly typical the following observation supplied
by a lady who cannot be called inverted: "Like so many other
children and girls, I was first taught self-indulgence by a girl
at school, and I passed on my knowledge to one or two others,
with one of whom I remember once, when we were just 16, spending
the night sensually. We were horribly ashamed after, and that was
the only time. When I was only 8 there was a girl of 13 who liked
to play with my body, and taught me to play with hers, though I
rather disliked doing so. We slept together, and this went on at
intervals for six months. These things, for the sake of getting
enjoyment, and not with any passion, are not uncommon with
children, but less common, I think, than people sometimes
imagine. I believe I could recall without much difficulty, the
number of times such things happened with me. In the case I
mentioned when I did for one night feel--or try to excite in
myself and my girl-companion of 16--sensual passion, we had as
little children slept together a few times and done these things,
and meeting after an absence, just at that age, recalled our
childish memories, and were carried away by sexual impulse. But I
never felt any peculiar affection or passion for her even at the
time, nor she for me. We only felt that our sensual nature was
strong at the time, and had betrayed us into something