of it, until I became engaged, and saw I must support
myself if I were ever to marry. I worked hard, and rapidly
improved my position.

"I think I am correct in stating that from the day I became
engaged my sexual troubles seemed to have ceased. My thoughts and
passions were centred on one woman. We wrote to one another
twice every week, and as far as I was concerned every thought and
feeling I had I told her, and the receipt of her letters was for
me the event of my life for nearly three years. My anxiety in
connection with my work used up a great deal of my energy, and,
although I looked forward to the time when I should have a woman
at my side every night, my sexual desires were in abeyance. Nor
did I feel any desire or temptation for other women.

"I masturbated, but not frequently. Generally I did it to the
accompaniment of images or scenes associated with my betrothed,
sometimes the act was purely auto-erotic. My leisure time was
devoted to reading.

"On only one occasion did I have intercourse with a woman during
my engagement (three years); it was with a girl whose
acquaintance I had made at the university and who asked me to
come to see her.

"I married at the age of 24. Looking back on the early days of my
married life it is now a matter of surprise to me that I was so
far from exhibiting the transports of passion which since then
have accompanied any intercourse with a new woman. Partly I was
frightened of shocking her; partly my three years of comparative
abstinence had chastened me. It was some weeks before I ever saw
my wife entirely naked; I never touched her parts with my hand
for many months; and after the first few weeks I did not have
intercourse with her frequently.

"Perhaps this was to be expected. The basis of my affection for
her had always been a moral or mental one rather than physical,
although she was a handsome, well-made girl. Besides, money and
other worries kept my thoughts busy, as well as struggles to make
both ends meet.

"Indeed, I may say my sexual nature seemed to be dying out. When
I had been married less than six months I discovered that sexual
intercourse with my wife no longer meant what sexual intercourse
used to mean--no excitement or exaltation or ecstasy. My wife
perhaps contributed to this by her attitude. She c