at 17, she had an overwhelming, passionate
fascination for a schoolfellow, a pretty, commonplace girl, whom
she idealized and etherealized to an extravagant extent. This
passion was so violent that her health was, to some extent,
impaired; but it was purely unselfish, and there was nothing
sexual in it. On leaving school at the age of 19 she met a girl
of about the same age as herself, very womanly, but not much
attracted to men. This girl became very much attached to her, and
sought to gain her love. After some time Miss H. was attracted by
this love, partly from the sense of power it gave her, and an
intimate relation grew up. This relation became vaguely physical,
Miss H. taking the initiative, but her friend desiring such
relations and taking extreme pleasure in them; they used to touch
and kiss each other tenderly (especially on the _mons veneris_),
with equal ardor. They each experienced a strong pleasurable
feeling in doing this, and sexual erethism, but no orgasm, and it
does not appear that this ever occurred. Their general behavior
to each other was that of lovers, but they endeavored, as far as
possible, to hide this fact from the world. This relation lasted
for several years, and would have continued, had not Miss H.'s
friend, from religious and moral scruples, put an end to the
physical relationship. Miss H. had been very well and happy
during this relationship; the interference with it seems to have
exerted a disturbing influence, and also to have aroused her
sexual desires, though she was still scarcely conscious of their
real nature.

Soon afterward another girl of exceedingly voluptuous type made
love to Miss H., to which the latter yielded, giving way to her
feelings as well as to her love of domination. She was afterward
ashamed of this episode, though the physical element in it had
remained vague and indefinite. Her remorse was so great that when
her friend, repenting her scruples, implored her to let their
relationship be on the same footing as of old, Miss H., in her
return, resisted every effort to restore the physical relation.
She kept to this resolution for some years, and sought to divert
her thoughts into intellectual channels. When she again formed an
intimate relationship it was with a congenial friend, and lasted
for several years.

She