rately took off his
overcoat, and then wheeling the sofa in front of the fire, desired me to
sit by him. This I did, with apparent hesitation, telling him there was
nobody in the house, and I wasn't quite sure it was right for me to stay
alone in his company. This information, conveyed with a well assumed
maiden bashfulness, seemed to afford the old rascal the most intense
delight; he threw his arm around me, and kissed me repeatedly, then his
hand began the exploration to which I have alluded. I suffered him to
proceed just far enough to set his passions in a blaze; and then,
breaking from his embrace, I took my seat at the further end of the
sofa, assuring him if he approached me without my permission, I should
scream out. This was agony to him; I saw with delight that he was
beginning to suffer. He begged, entreated, supplicated me to let him
come near me; and at last I consented; upon condition that he should
attempt to take no further liberties. To this he agreed, and seating
himself at my side, but without touching me, he devoured me with lustful
eyes. For some minutes neither of us spoke, but at length he took my
hand, and again passed his arm around my waist. I did not oppose him,
but remained passive and silent. 'Dear girl,' he whispered, pressing me
close to him--'why need you be so cruel as to deny me the pleasure of
love? Consider, I am your minister, and cannot sin: it will therefore be
no sin for you to favor me.'

'Oh, sir,' I answered, 'I wish you were a young man--then I could
almost--'

'Angelic creature!' he cried passionately--'true, I am not young, but
Love never grows old--no, no, no! Consent to be mine, sweet delicious
girl, and--'

'Ah, sir!' I murmured--'you tempt me sorely--I am but a weak giddy
young creature; do not ask me to do wrong, for I fear that I may yield,
and how very, very wicked that would be!'

'The reverend gentleman covered my cheeks and lips with hot kisses, as
he said--'Wicked--no! Heaven has given us passions, and we must gratify
them. Look at David--look at Solomon--both good men;--they enjoyed the
delights of love, and are now saints in Heaven, and why may not we do
the same? Why, my dear, it is the special privilege of the ministry
to--'

'Ruin us young girls, sir?' I rejoined, smiling archly. 'Ah, you have
set my heart in a strange flutter! I feel almost inclined--if you are
sure it is not wicked--very sure--then I--'

'You are mine!' he exclaimed in a hoarse whis