For his beautiful antagonist met his attack so grandly and discharged her battery so promptly in reply to his, that if the latter had not been retained by the discreet covering, very serious consequences to the lady would have almost inevitably made themselves apparent in nine months' time or thereabouts.
And in our humble opinion gratification is not increased by running any risk. On the present occasion both Miss Bonham and her lover congratulated themselves on having enjoyed each other thoroughly, and without any fear of the result.
Their extreme transports being over for the present, the young gentleman applied himself to putting his dress in order, while Eliza rang the bell and desired Lucy to send up the lunch.
While this acceptable refreshment was being done justice to, the loving pair proceeded to consider what was to be done in regard to Mr.
Bonham's infatuation. Captain Torrant's first step was prompt and business like. He told his man Robert, a smart soldier, to take a walk through the fields in the neighbourhood of the Fieldings' farm, and, by getting into conversation with some of the farm lasses, he would most likely find out something as to Miss Rosa, the great probability being that the old dame would not be able to keep her mouth shut, but would have been dropping boastful hints as to her daughter's great prospects, being made a grand lady of, and so on.
'Find out this for me if you can Bob,' said his generous master, 'and I will give you free liberty to do what you like by way of amusing yourself with any of the girls.'
'Cert'nly sir, thank you sir,' replied that valuable domestic, saluting as he marched away on his errand.
Leaving him for a while to enjoy his country walk, we will attend at the consultation between the lovers.
'You see, my darling Alfred,' began Eliza, 'I fear there is considerable truth in these reports that are going about. I don't believe all I hear about the girl's beauty.'
'Oh, of course not,' said the Captain, inwardly chuckling.
'I dare say she is a pretty, dowdy doll; but when a man of my father's age makes a fool of himself, he does it with a vengeance. And if you were to speak to him seriously on the subject, he would ask you what business it was of yours, quarrel with you, and perhaps cut you out of his will, or turn you out of the house and forbid our marriage.'
'That would never do,' interposed the young gentleman warmly.
'No indeed, dearest Alfred,' replied the lady looking at him warmly and lovingly.
'What plan would you propose then my pet?' asked he, 'supposing that your governor does contemplate making a jolly jackass out of himself in his old age?'
'Well, Alfred, if he could be put out of conceit with the girl in some way-if he found anything against her character-something to disgust him in short-'
'I perceive,' replied Captain Torrant reflectively, 'but there is some danger. In the first place, proof may be very difficult to get to support the accusation; and in the second place any one setting such reports on foot would be liable to heavy damages.'
'Pooh, pooh,' replied Eliza, 'you have plenty of young scamps among your brother officers who would be delighted with the chance of taking a pretty girl's maidenhood. Only let me find out her address, and then you can give one of your friends the information, and let him make her acquaintance and seduce her; fuck her well, get her with child-anything-so that she is quite ruined and spoilt as to any purpose of becoming a stepmother to me.'
To this hopeful scheme, the gentleman assented, merely remarking that it would never do 'to trust any of our fellows with such a delicate business.'
'I see how it is sir,' exclaimed Eliza, 'you think that if there is any maidenhood taking to be done, you can do it pretty well yourself. And so you can, I can testify; only I think that your regard for me, that you profess so largely about, might keep you from straying after such a nonsensical baby-faced doll.'
'My darling Eliza, I did not propose to do anything of the kind,' replied the aggrieved dragoon, 'I merely said that I would not venture to entrust such a piece of business to any of our youngsters.'
'Ah well,' said the lady, 'I would rather have avoided this part of the business; but I suppose what must be, must; and if the girl is to be seduced and rogered, you will have to do it. Of course, it is all fun for you, but I can't help but feel a little bit jealous. You don't care for her I know, as you care for me, but still all you young reprobates like a little change, and I am told that she is fresh and rosy-looking, with golden brown hair; while as for poor me, I am sallow and colourless, and my black hair looks dismal-I know it does.'
We may presume that Miss Bonham made these remarks in full consciousness of her charms; for she really was a splendid woman. And of course her lover judiciously lost no time in informing her of the fact, accompanying his protestations with the warmest caresses. So that at last the young lady, fairly vanquished, promised to be no more jealousthan she could help; that she supposed Alfred would have to like Rosa a little-just a little bit-or he would not be able to seduce her; and that when that nice little bit of business was done, he must leave her in some gay house, or in keeping with one of his friends, or somewhere or other; Miss Bonham was not particular, only that Alfred must never see the girl again; and must marry her-Eliza-as soon as it could be managed, and then they would live happy forever afterwards, as the story book says. On this there followed more kisses and caresses, and the lovers went out for a walk in the garden.
Leaving them in their happiness we will follow Master Robert on his excursion to the Fieldings' farm; an excursion taken on his master's account as far as business was concerned, but not without an eye to his own amusement should opportunity occur. The day was fine, and he walked leisurely along, thoroughly enjoying the feeling of having got away from the barracks, and of having nothing to do; not that Master Robert was particularly over-burdened in that respect at any time. He had asked directions as to his road from one or two country louts, and was following a side path which bordered a wood, when he caught sight of some chimneys in the distance; this he thought might be the farm he sought; and while he was considering the matter he perceived in the adjoining wood a girl and a boy gathering fallen sticks. He spoke to the couple, desiring to know whereabouts Farmer Fielding's might happen to be. On this, the girl said her brother should show him the way, while she went home with the sticks.
But Master Robert, who had his eyes about him, and perceived that the girl, though coarsely dressed was a stout, buxom, fresh-looking lass of about seventeen, proposed that she should show him the way, and that her little brother should take the sticks home. The girl seemed to hesitate; but the boy being presented with a penny, cut the matter short by running off to spend it, and thus left Robert, as he wished, alone with the nice-looking girl guide.
She was for going to the farm by the path, from which indeed, as she said, the house was easily to be seen; but Robert knew better than that, and said he was sure the wood must be a shorter way, and putting his arm around the girl's waist, led her along to where the bushes appeared to grow tolerably close. She laughingly declared that the way he was taking did not lead to anywhere; but did not seem to object nevertheless, even when Robert, spying a mossy bank, pretty well sheltered from observation, proposed that they should sit down there and rest awhile.
Finding that the girl was not at all ill-disposed for a little love-making, though she might be a little shy, the jolly dragoon proceeded to seat her on his knee, taking the precaution in the first instance of raising her petticoats, so that he might have facilities for exploring her bare rump.
And of course, when he had got tier great fat arse thus comfortably established, he lost no time in shoving a couple of fingers up her cunt.