'I don't know what you mean,' said I, 'and I don't know what you mean by spending.'

'Why, bless you, girl! Do you mean to tell me that you have never tickled yourself there?' laying her hand once more an my lap, but taking it away again immediately, 'in bed, until what you call the “wet", and I call “spend” came?'

'Never!' said I.

Ah, that is just because your thoughts have never rightly turned to love, my pet! I really do believe you are as ignorant and as innocent as I thought you were only pretending to be! I see I have a great deal to teach you, and I will teach you, too! But see, it is getting time for us to be going home, and I dare say you would like to put on some dry drawers.'

But although I pretended to be of the same mind, yet no sooner had Lucia begun to rise than I pushed her over and made a grab at her, caught her, turned her on her back, and putting my hand between her thighs, I began to treat her as she had treated me. Instead of struggling, she lay perfectly quiet, looking up into my glowing face, saying, 'Well, what are you up to now, Susan?'

'I am going to punish you and treat you the same way you treated me, and see if you like being tickled nearly to death!'

'Oh,' said she, 'I defy you to tickle me. You don't know how to do it.'

'Perhaps not so well as you do, darling, but I will try, anyway!'

Lucia had not nearly so thick a material in her dress as I had, and she had on the lightest of petticoats and shift. I could distinctly feel the soft, yielding charm under my moving fingers and even thought I could trace the deep line which marked her sex.

She lay quite quiet for about half a minute, when she suddenly gave a little start. Ah-ha! Miss! I don't tickle you, I suppose!'