The old gentleman, who was waiting with interest for some revelation, said.
"'What foolery is this, girl? You can't write without ink in the pen.'
" That's just it, papa,' said witty Mrs. Harcourt. I've been trying to write without ink in the pen this last five years, and I've grown tired of it."
For a moment Flora failed to see the point of the story; but when she did, and a gesture and look from madam made the point obvious enough, although she blushed, she joined heartily in the laugh at Mrs. Hartcourt's wit.
As the curacao loosened Madam Marcelle's tongue, story followed story and jest jest until Flora, quite familiar, found an opportunity to allude to the book madam had once shewn her.
" I think, madam," said Flora, " I am now no longer a school girl, and to be on our guard against the ways of the world one should know what those ways are. I remember a book you shewed which somewhat startled me at the time, but I am wiser now and should like to read it."
" Ah, miss, I'm sure you are quite right; but that book I have parted with, though I can procure others for you. It is well to be aware of what is going on; besides, love is the universal destiny of all women, and when we are, from circumstances denied its indulgence I don't see what harm there is in gaining excitement and pleasure in reading of others' intrigues as a substitute for the real enjoyment ourselves. I will send you' strictly privately' some charming books which I am sure will delight and excite you. Besides, miss, such reading and the feelings they will produce will develope your frame and make you more fitted for sexual enjoyment when your time comes to have it."
" Yes," said Flora, " I am somewhat of a warm temperament, and I fear that reading your books will unduly excite me and arouse feelings which I shall find it difficult to allay."
" Oh, as far as that goes," said madam, " I often read and think of the pleasures I once enjoyed until I quite thirst for a return of them; but I find no difficulty in allaying my desires, if not exactly in the way I should like, for the oath of fidelity I took to Marcelle, though he has deserted me, I have religiously adhered to, yet in a manner that satisfies me."
Flora was too shrewd to interrupt her or let her know that what she evidently alluded to had been in her own thoughts, so she handed the glass again replenished, and innocently asked, " Pray, how do you manage that? "
" Well, miss,I'll tell you in strict confidence. I am too much of a woman to be guilty of the school girl trick of procuring pleasure with my fingers, and as I told you I will not have anything to do with a man from a religious vow I made; but I have an excellent substitute in a machine called a dildo, which is made to resemble a man's love prop and which I can use myself, and gives me almost as much pleasure as I could feel in the embrace of a man. Besides, it has no danger, and I'm sure you would enjoy it immensely if you let me get you one similar to mine. You can form no idea of the delight you will experience when you work your feelings up to a joyful pitch of excitement by reading the delightful love tales I can send you; and then when your poor pussy is all pouting and burning for gratification, you thrust this delightful instrument gently in, and after moving it in and out until you feel that you can stand it no longer, you feel in fact that your life-juice is about to flow; you squeeze it and pour into your hot fanny a copious flood of warm, delicious fluid; or you need not enjoy it in solitude, for if you have a lady friend that you can rely on, it may be used for mutual enjoyment and only closing your eyes you can clasp her to you and really imagine your lover is in your arms, and at the same time know that no tell-tale baby will follow your amour. I have your orders to send the books; pray let me send a dildo also. I know you will thank me for it."
After some show of reluctance Flora consented, and highly gratified and with a roll of bank notes thrust into her glove, Madame Marcelle took her departure, and had you met her on the stairs it would never have occurred to you that she had imbibed half-a-dozen glasses of curacao or had talked of any more exciting subject than Miss Flora's new dresses.
TABLEAU III
It is Wednesday evening.
During the day a parcel had arrived, by hand, carefully sealed up, and delivered into Miss Flora's own hand. Burning with curiosity she would fain have opened it, but she had given her word to her two friends that she would not, and Flora was a girl to keep her promise. Impatiently, however, she sat waiting until her companions made their appearance. They were immediately ushered into Flora's room.
Refreshments were spread, the door locked, a thick curtain drawn across it, that no prying eyes might peep in, and the three girls prepared themselves for an evening of abandon and pleasure.
" Well, love," said Laura, "have you got what you promised? "
" I have, " said Flora, " and more. I have here a parcel unopened wich contains not only the instrument of delight, but some delightful books, which I am all impatient to read. So now, girls, drink this wine. I pledge you to our thorough enjoyment to our confidence and secresy; and now for the parcel."
" First," said Maud, " let me take off my travelling cloak."
" Oh, yes," said Laura, " and more than that, the room is hot, and we shall better enjoy the reading if unencumbered with too much apparel."
And suiting the action to the word she threw off her cloak, her boots, and partially disrobed, with her lovely bosom glowing in the lamplight, she sat down.
Maud and Flora did the same, and the three lovely girls gathered round the table, their colour glowing, their snowy bosoms heaving, they made a picture which only a Titian could paint and a poet describe.
The seal was broken, the books in tissue wrappers taken out and a box revealed which they instinctively felt contained the article.
" Here," said Flora, " is Pandora's box. It contains our hope. That I will leave for the last. Now for the books."
They eagerly gathered round her. As she unpacked them and as she turned over the leaves and displayed the pictures various were the exclamations that followed, and amidst blushes and laughs and exclamations of delight and wonder the books were read.
"Oh my!"
"Oh, how nice!"
" Oh! do they do it like that? "
" Oh, my gracious! is a man so large as that represents? "
" Oh, good gracious! can a woman ever be so shameless as to suffer that? "
"Oh, look! he's getting into the very place! or, No; he's doing it from the back! "
" Oh, lor, how they seem to enjoy it! "
" Oh, my! do read about it," and such like observations fell in rapid utterance from their lips.
" Oh, dear Flora, what a beautiful book of poems is this," said Maud, "and what exquisite pictures, though so very naughty. Do read one of the poems."
Flora turned to the volume, an exquisite copy enriched with choice etchings, entitled, " Lays for Light Hearts; or, Tales of Love in plain English," and read the following ballad: