ecause it was the means of my discovering that Miss
Evelyn was exactly in the same state. She had continued her endearing
caresses without proceeding much further than I have already described,
except more frequently kissing me. She now always did so on first
entering the school-room, and also when we were dismissed. I suppose to
prevent an observation or inference, she had adopted the same habit
with my sisters. On this day, having drawn me with her arm round my
waist close to her, when she kissed me I felt the very same odour of
breath that I had observed in Mrs. Benson. She too was languid that day
and complained of headache. I also observed a dark line under her eyes,
and on afterwards observing Mrs. B., saw precisely the same--so I
became convinced they were unwell from the same cause. Mrs. B. had told
me that most women were so at the full of the moon--which was then the
case.

The next day my mother proposed to drive to town, and probably knowing
the state of the case, asked Mrs. B. and Miss Evelyn to accompany her,
as she thought the airing would be beneficial. They at once
accepted--my younger sister cried out, "Oh, mamma, let me go with you
also." Mary interposed, and thought she had the best right--but Lizzie
said she had spoken first. I managed to give Mary a wink and a shake of
the head, which she instantly comprehended, so gracefully giving way,
although with apparent reluctance, it was arranged that Eliza should
accompany the ladies. I now felt my opportunity was at hand to initiate
my darling sister into the delightful mysteries that I had just been
myself instructed in.

At eleven o'clock the carriage drove up, and we stood looking after
them until they were lost to sight. Then returning into the parlour,
Mary threw her arms round my neck, and kissing me, said--

"Oh! I am glad, Charlie, you winked to me, for now you know we can do
as we like, and you can tell me all about this secret, and you must
kiss my little Fanny as you did before, it was so nice. I have thought
of nothing else, but how to have it done again."

"Well, my darling, I shall do all that, and more, but we cannot do so
here. I tell you what we will do--we will pretend to go for a long walk
in the country, but instead of that, we will pass through the shrubbery
into the orchard and hazelwood, and so gain the little remote summer
house, of which I have secured the key; there we shall be safe from all
observation."

This little summe