that the fingering which Betsy had kept up during the whole time I was
dressing had again raised a flame in me which I had not had time to
quench, and I turned into the music room to take advantage of the few
minutes to calm myself down, that I might not make an exhibition before
the rest of the party. Laura had observed me, and thinking that the
movement arose from shyness at meeting a party of comparative
strangers, she came to me and entered into conversation. The charms of
her person, more especially after all that had just passed with Betsy
regarding her, again raised the flame to an even greater height than
before, and the effect was plainly visible through a pair of thin
trousers. I soon saw by her heightened colour that the consequences
were not unobserved by her. I was afraid at first that she might be
annoyed by so open a demonstration of the effects of her charms, but to
my great delight she showed no symptom of being offended, but continued
to converse with me, and, I thought, rather enjoyed the confusion which
the rampantness of the offending member at first occasioned me. Finding
this to be the case, I soon recovered my self-possession, and being
desirous to make as great an impression on her senses as possible, I
placed myself so that I could not be observed by any of the party in
the drawing room, and instead of attempting to conceal it, I allowed
the protuberance in front to become even more prominent, indeed so much
so, as to enable her to form a pretty accurate idea of its size and
shape. She took no notice of this, but I knew it could not escape her
observation. When a general move was made to the dining room, she took
my arm and said that, as I was a stranger, I must allow her to take
charge of me, until I became a little better acquainted with the
company. I willingly assented, and for the rest of the evening I
attached myself to her. Without attempting to take any liberties with
her, I omitted no opportunity of letting her see the full effect of her
beauty and charms upon my senses.

The next morning I was up early and on the lookout. From Betsy's
description I had not been able exactly to understand how I could
manage to surprise Laura during her amusement, and I determined to
watch and follow her and be guided by circumstances. Sometime before
the breakfast hour I saw her leave the house by a side door and proceed
through a part of the park which was a good deal shaded with trees. I
took advanta