A Meeting of the Twain

This is a story that involves sex between males. If such a story is offensive, or illegal for you to read where you live, then do not continue, go and surf elsewhere.

This is a work of fiction and in no way draws on the lives of any specific person or persons. If there is any similarity to any real persons or events it is entirely coincidental.

The work is copyrighted (c) by the author and may not be reproduced in any form without the specific written permission of the author. It is assigned to the Nifty Archives under the terms of their submission agreement but it may not be copied or archived on any other site without the written permission of the author.

My thanks to John who has read this through and made a number of corrections and suggestions. Any remaining errors , grammatical, spelling or historical or whatever are entirely my fault.

Thank you to those who have commented on my stories. If you want to comment on the story then do contact me on Jeffyrks@hotmail.com. I aim to reply to all messages.

A Meeting of the Twain Part 2

Alas, regardless of their doom The little victims play! No sense have they of ills to come, No care beyond today. Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College

Thomas Gray 1716-1771

The rest of the summer of 1774 was for Lex Penbarton a time of increasing sexual discovery. He spent hours riding his beloved Artemis all around the surrounding countryside. As the fine summer continued, many evenings were spent down by the Marran playing around in the river and going off into the bushes. The other lads who liked that sort of thing were all eager to go with Lex; but his most frequent companions were either Ralph Tooley or Billy Blackstone. The linhay in the top field was a frequent meeting place with Ralph, and the over-grown corner of the field where they had first had fun together was where he often met with Billy.

The summer holiday drew to an end. The harvest was collected, and the light evenings became shorter and cooler. It was late in September when Lex went back to school. He was determined that he would find some fellow in his house [See footnote 1] or dormitory who would enjoy what he had experienced with Ralph and Billy.

He found himself looking at his fellow school boys with different eyes. Would he like to have fun with them? At the same time he tried to assess whether they would like to engage in such activities with him.

There was a rigid hierarchy in the school. At the very bottom were the boys in their first year, the new bugs. They tended to be picked on by older boys, and most of them had to serve as fags to older senior boys. As Lex had been a year at the school he had moved on from this group. At the top were those boys in the final year. Most of them had their own rooms, though a few of the poorer sort had to share. Those with their own rooms had greater independence, and they were allowed a fag. Fags were new bugs used as unpaid servants, occasionally treated well, as Lex had been, but often abused physically and sometimes sexually. Such boarding schools in late 18th century England, were hard and often cruel places. Lex, being a robust and strong boy, was usually able to hold his own in the melee of life in his house. He got on well with his peers. He was something of a rarity in that he also enjoyed studying Latin and Greek.

It was the sixth day of the autumn term when he was having his main meal with the fifty other boys of his house in the dining hall. Lex became conscious of Augustus Fitchette. Lex found himself looking at Fitchette, or Fidge, as he was usually called, and Augustus Fitchette was looking straight at him. Two years separated the two of them in age. In the previous year Fidge had been one among many older boys whom Lex and his peers tried to avoid. Lex looked down at the plate in front of him, and took another mouthful. When he looked up Fidge was still staring at him. Lex looked back, he was now a more confident `second year'. Fidge was a good looking eighteen year old, with dark brown hair, and brown eyes. Lex was conscious of a stirring in his crotch, so he looked back at his plate and continued eating. This time he took several mouthfuls before looking at Fidge, who was seated some twenty feet away. Fidge looked away as soon as Lex looked at him. So it went on through the meal, each boy keeping looking at the other. At the end of the meal they all stood and the final Grace was said. Then bedlam broke out as the stampede of boys rushed for the door.

Lex gave little thought to what had happened over that meal time in the following couple of hours. His head was firmly in his Greek grammar learning some irregular verbs. When the work time was over the boys of the school were free to occupy themselves. At that particular school many boys chose to play bungy. It was played in the open air, in a small restricted area. The rules of the game were complicated and known only to its devotees. The game was never played away from the school, and details of the game need not take up our time, as on that particular late afternoon Lex was with a few other boys watching rather than playing.

After a few minutes he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned and saw Fidge standing next to him. He gave a slight embarrassed grin, as he remembered the twitch his prick had made during the meal an hour or so before. Fidge returned the grin, and stood there keeping his hand on Lex's shoulder. Then Lex felt the older boy's finger gently rubbing his neck and touching the lobe of his ear. He liked it and felt his prick stir.

Fidget leaned closer to Lex and whispered in his ear. "I'd like to talk to you Pen." That was Lex's most often used school nickname, an abbreviation of Penbarton. "Come to my room."

Lex turned to Fidge, who raised his eyebrows and smiled. This was no hostile, or reprimanding invitation. He gave a slight nod.

The older boy took away his hand, turned and walked off in the direction of his room. Lex followed.

When they got to the room Fidge opened the door to see this fag busy cleaning the small fireplace. The peremptory command "Out!" made the fag scurry out of the room. Fidge went into the room and Lex followed. Fidge closed the door and stood with his back to it.

"What's all this about, Fidge?"

"I want to talk to you. You've changed over the summer."

"Oh! In what way?"

"You're less of a young boy and more of a young man. You've filled out, and you're more confident. Did you have a good summer?"

"Yes. I was given a horse for a birthday present."

"Lucky you! You like riding?"

For the next few minutes they stood there discussing horses, as a much later generation would discuss motorbikes or cars.

"So you were given a horse; what else happened?"

"What do you mean?"

"Something important, probably something good happened to you, to explain why you've changed."

The only thing of importance that might explain any change was what had happened with Ralph Tooley and Billy Blackstone and the other lads in the bushes down by the river.

"My older brother is going to get married!"

"Is that all. I shouldn't have thought you gave that much thought, a boy like you at your age." A slight smile spread over Fidge's face.

It was at this point that Lex felt slightly embarrassed. A slight blush appeared on his face.

"So what happened?" The slight smile became a broad grin.

"What right have you to question me, Fidge? I want to go."

"So there is something? Something happened, you're embarrassed about it." Fidge still stood with his back to the door. There was no easy way out for Lex. "Let me hazard a guess." He paused, working out in his head how to put into words what he wanted to say. "I think you probably became a man. Who was it? A dairy maid who milks the cows let you put some of your prick-milk into her? Or was it some servant girl you lured into your bed?"

"No it was not! Neither!" said Lex strongly and loudly.

Fidge smiled. "Not a female of the species. A male then?"

Lex now blushed properly.

"Good. And you enjoyed it?"

Lex hesitated before answering with a nod.

"And I suppose that you are like me, missing such delights of back home now you're back at this place."

Lex looked at Fidge with a renewed interest.

"We could do a lot worse than having fun with each other." Fidge stepped away from the door, and flung his arms round Lex. "When I saw you in the dining hall earlier it was as though I was seeing you for the first time. That Pen is a nice looking guy. So what about it?" He gave Lex a kiss, and pushed his crotch into Lex.

Lex could feel Fidge's hardening prick, and felt his own respond. He returned Fidge's kiss, and pressed himself closer to the older lad. "I'd been hoping I'd find someone back here."

Fidge gave Lex a quick kiss, broke away, and turning, locked the door. "Now we won't be interrupted, and we can do what we like." He stepped back close to Lex, and they put their arms round each other. Fidge started kissing Lex's cheek, and neck and nibbling at his ear. Their pricks were hard, and rubbed at each other through the layers of their undergarments and britches.

"You feel big and hard," whispered Lex.

"Big and hard, wanting you." Fidge reached down to feel Lex's prick with his hand. "And your pintle is not exactly small, and it's hard enough!" He reached up to start undressing Lex. Lex copied Fidge, and slowly with gentle delight they undressed each other, enjoying every stage of the mutual revelation. "Let's get on the bed."

"I've never done this on a bed."

"Where have you done it then?"

"In a linhay in our top field, or in some bushes down by the river."

"Local lads swimming?"

"Yes. Great fun when the weather's warm. I don't know what I'll do back home in the winter."

"There're more hours of darkness, and stables and places."

"You sound an expert!"

Fidge laughed. "Where there's a will there's a way."

Lex lay on his back on the bed.

Fidge knelt above him, and looked down on the younger boy's prick. For a fifteen year old it was long and thick. The head was showing a red face as it protruded from the foreskin. "You got a lovely one. I bet that's going to make a lot of people happy."

"That is what Ralph and Billy have said."

"Ralph? Billy?"

"Ralph is the first person I did it with. He is about nineteen. Billy Blackstone is slightly older than me, and he is my half brother."

This needed an explanation, which Lex started to give. But Fidge lowered his head and after a kiss on the head of Lex's prick he took it into his mouth. Both groaned with enjoyment, and Lex's explanation tailed off into silence, and sighs of pleasure. Fidge sucked until Lex shot his spunk into the older boy's mouth.

Lex lay back on bed with a smile of exhausted contentment on his face. "That was good. I'd like more of that."

"We've got the rest of this term, and two more terms after that." Fidge was on all fours, looking down at Lex. "Glad you liked it. I did too."

Lex suddenly grinned. Fidge was kneel astride him, so Lex wriggled down the bed until Fidge's prick was hanging over his face. He reached up and pulled Fidge's bum cheeks down so that he could get Fidge's prick comfortably into his mouth. He sucked, using his tongue to maximum effect, and with his fingers he searched for Fidge's arsehole. He gently rubbed his fingers over the sensitive entry. This soon had its effect on Fidge. He cried out as his load of spunk was deposited into Lex's eager mouth.

Lex looked no further among his school companions. Some time every day was spent in Fidge's room with the door locked. The fag soon realised that if Lex came to that room he had to disappear quickly. Often he heard the door lock behind him. He knew exactly what was going on, he only wished he could have stayed to join in.

When the Autumn term was over Lex went back to Whitgest. He had not been home an hour before he was out riding Artie. He knew that now he had his own horse he would be able to join the local hunt. He had been looking forward to that everyday since the summer.

Ralph greeted him in the stable yard when he returned from his ride. "Well, master Lex?"

"Well, Ralph Tooley?"

"Horse all right?"

"Fine. Thanks for looking after her so well. She's in great shape."

"Good term at school?"

"Yes, very good." Lex felt a slight blush come to his face.

Ralph noticed, and put two and two together. "Good in more ways than just learning?"

"You could say that." Lex grinned.

"So you won't be wanting Ralph Tooley no more then?"

Lex was uncertain whether the note in Ralph's voice was one of disappointment or hope. "Not at all. I expect you've been having it off with Billy Blackstone and his like. So perhaps you'll not be wanting Lex Penbarton."

"Maybe I have been having it off with Billy. But I am always ready to do for the squire's youngest son."

"But not for his oldest son?"

Ralph pulled a face, and they both laughed.

"But Ralph, where? It's now winter. Bushes are cold and leafless, and the beasts will be in the linhay at this time of year."

"No one comes to the stables in the evening. The hay loft up above is fairly warm, and there's plenty of hay to lie on."

"It'll be dark up there. And risky with a candle with all the hay around."

"There's a lantern in the tack room. That'll give us light enough."

"I'd better not this evening. Papa will be wanting a full report on school. perhaps tomorrow."

"I think I can wait till then." Ralph gave his crotch a suggestive rub, and winked at Lex. "Till then."

Lex had watched the local hunt many times. His first hunt was on Boxing Day, the day after Christmas. It was a small hunt, the pack were kept on one of the estate farms. Most of those who hunted were local farmers, eager to keep down the population of marauding foxes. Many of the farm labourers tried to be working in places where they could catch a sight of the hunt.

Boxing Day that year was a crisp sunny day. The going was fairly hard. After about twenty minutes the hounds picked up a scent, and the hunt was off.

Lex had been brought up to regard the hunt as an important part of local life. In the second half of the eighteenth century most hunts were not the more ritualised occasions they were later to become. The wearing of hunting pink was only just beginning to come into vogue. His father had been an enthusiastic and bold huntsmen, but in his later years, as he had become older and more rotund, he became more circumspect and took far fewer hedges than in the days of his youth. Lex's brother Edward hunted because it was expected of him, but he was neither a skilled horseman nor a courageous rider. Thomas did not like hunting. He preferred to have his head in a book. After a few hunts Sir Edward gave up all hope that his second son would ever enjoy hunting, so allowed him to keep his head in his books. From his first hunt Lex enjoyed it. He had that innate sense of when a hedge was too high to be jumped or the river too wide to be crossed. Old Sir Edward watched with approval. He began to think that a change should be made in his plans for his sons. Lex hunted several times during that Christmas holiday from school.

It is, however, not the purpose of this story to give a detailed account of Lex's fox hunting activities. Let us return to more important matters.

On the final afternoon of his holiday Sir Edward called his sons together. "I have been thinking. Edward, in the fullness of time you will succeed me. I hope you will maintain the fortunes of this family, and be a good and caring squire to our tenants on whom we depend, and who depend on us. Thomas, I had thought you as the second son would become a soldier. It is becoming more and more apparent to me that is not the life for which you are cut out. You are a good lad, and studious too. How would you like to become a man of the cloth and become a parson? The old rector of this parish cannot go on for much longer. When he dies you could become the rector. How does that appeal to you?"

A look of relief had spread over Thomas' face. "To be honest, Papa, I dreaded the prospect of going into the army. I would far prefer to be ordained. I could then continue my studies."

"You would also have to take services in the church, baptise the children, take weddings, now a much more regulated affair, with Hardwicke's Matrimonial Act. But you'd enjoy reading up all the rules and regulations. Then there is the burial of the dead. What do you think?"

"I'd like that."

"Now. young Lex. You're more after my own heart. I think you would make a better soldier. Finish your schooling. It is always good to be well educated. Then I'll purchase a commission for you, and you can go off killing the French."

"Papa, I'd much prefer to be a soldier than a parson."

"Well that's settled then. But there is one more word that I want to say to you all. The baronetcy is passed down the male line. You, Edward, I hope will father some sons. You Thomas, need to father sons, just in case something happens to Edward and any sons he may have. The same applies to you, Alec. You never know when some plague or disaster may strike. As you all know, almost all the estate is entailed. When I die most will go to Edward. I hope that he will treat his brothers justly and fairly. But you Thomas, and Alec, need to be independent, and not a drain on Edward and the estate. I want you to know this. But I hope to be around for a few more years yet!"

"Yes, Papa," was the chorus from his three sons.

In the early evening Lex slipped out of the hall and made his way over to the stables. There was a soft whinny of recognition from Artie as she recognised Lex. He went over to her, spoke softly to her. He reached into his pocket and gave her a precious piece of sugar, that he'd managed to cut from the sugar loaf in the kitchen when cook was not looking. He went through to the tack room, and managed to light the lantern. He made his way up to the hay loft, and hung the lantern from one of the hooks in the beams. He lay down on the hay. The hay loft was cold but he soon began to feel warm on the hay. He did not have to wait long. To his surprise he heard two pairs of feet. He sat up and saw first the head of Ralph appear, shortly followed by a grinning Billy.

"Billy here, got out of me that we were having a last time tonight, and made me bring him along too," said Ralph.

"Fine by me!"

"We must see him off back to that school of his. How shall we do him?" asked Billy.

"I'll suck him, while you fuck him, then we'll change over."

"But what about you two?"

"This is ours for you."

"You want to do something for me?" asked Lex.

"Yeah. What do you want?" Billy's eyes let up with the thought of some novel sexual activity.

"I'd like to watch the two of you together having fun. I've never seen two men at it."

Billy looked at Ralph, who nodded. "You first, then us two, and then back to you again."

"It's a bit cold to take all our clothes off?" said Ralph.

"Then let's us pull up our tops, and pull down our britches. We'll be able to get to the parts that matter."

"How do you want to be fucked, Master Lex?"

"Like a bull does a cow."

"And I'll get underneath and suck on your pizzle like a calf." said Ralph.

They adjusted their clothing, and Lex found he had to take one leg completely out of his britches to enable Billy to be able to mount him easily. He got into position.

Billy got a knob of butter from a pocket, and smeared on his rampant prick, and then lubricated Lex's arsehole. Meanwhile Ralph wriggled to get into position to be able to attend to Lex's prick.

Billy began to press his prick into Lex. Lex opened up, and very slowly Billy pushed his prick in.

"You feel like a bloody bull when you do it slowly like that, Billy."

"Too much for you?"

"No. It's bloody marvellous." There were further sounds of appreciation from Lex, and then a gasp as his prick was engulfed in Ralph's hot mouth, and he felt his balls being held in one of Ralph's hands.

Ralph stopped sucking for a moment. "But your balls aren't as big as a fucking bull's."

"I wouldn't be able to walk if they were."

"And all the spunk produced would drown you, Ralph," commented Billy.

They all laughed.

It was not warm enough in the hay loft for a long session. Very soon Billy's spunk was being deposited deep inside Lex, and Lex's spunk into Ralph's mouth.

When they had recovered their breath, Billy said, "You'd better fuck me, Ralph, as I've just shot my load."

Lex watched as the other two coupled. "I just wish we could all strip off. Keeping some clothes on is not the same as being naked, but it's far too cold."

Ralph was not long in climaxing. The three of them huddled closer together trying to keep warm, but the cold was winning. First one, and then the others began to shiver.

"I think that's enough for tonight," said Ralph.

They dressed and made their way down into the stable below. The horses looked to see what was going on at this hour. Ralph took the lamp back into the tackle room, and Lex opened the door into the yard.

"Cor! Look at this."

Billy and Ralph peered over Lex shoulder and saw that the yard was covered with about an inch of snow.

"Careful," said Lex. "We've got to think. If there s no more snow, there will be three sets of footprints leading from the stables. Somebody is bound to ask who? what? and why?" He stood for a moment. "I can always say I was over in the stable checking up on Artie when the snow fell. That would explain my steps back to the house. If I lead the way, and you two walk carefully in my footprints back to the house no one will realise that there were three of us."

"But what do we do then," asked Billy. "We can't come in for the night."

"No! But once at the house a couple of sets of footprints leading away from a door will not cause any questions to be asked. They could be the footprints of a couple of the day servants going home."

Lex let the way, like King Wenceslas, back to the door leading to the kitchens. There the three parted, Lex into the house, and Ralph and Billy back to their homes down in the village.

Lex's elder brother, Edward, was married to Caroline Kitstone on the Wednesday after Easter. The wedding took place at St George's Hanover Square, a fashionable London Church. It had been necessary to get the Archbishop of Canterbury's licence for the marriage to take place. The recently passed Matrimonial Act, pushed and piloted through Parliament by Philip Yorke, Earl of Hardwicke, had tightened up the rules and regulations involving marriage. It had got support in the House of Lords only by a concession that enabled those who could pay a fairly large sum to obtain an Archbishop's licence to have the ceremony performed outside the parishes of either the two people most closely involved. The churches at Bunting and Whitgest were deemed too small, remote and insignificant for the ceremony. So it was held in London.

It was not a top society wedding. There were no Royals present, and no Dukes or Marqesses or Earls, but there were two Viscounts and several Lords. Old Sir Edward and Mr Kitstone, Caroline's father, thought the money well spent.

The ceremony took place at 11.00 o'clock in the morning. The wedding breakfast was held at Sir Edward's town house in Chelsea. Sir Edward, Thomas and Lex returned to Hertfordshire the day after. Young Edward and his bride stayed in town for a further two days before departing for an extensive honeymoon on the continent. Their timetable was uncertain , but they planned to be away for at least six months visiting France and Italy, before returning home via Austria and Germany. Sir Edward was full of hope that his oldest son would quickly impregnate his young wife, and a son and heir would appear in due time.

The short Easter holidays saw Lex getting together with Ralph or Billy, often for a twosome but sometimes for a threesome.

A week later Lex returned to school for the summer term. The daily sessions with Fidge were immediately resumed. His fag soon learnt that the appearance of Lex in Fidge's room meant that he should leave immediately.

Fidge's fag was a younger boy named Frederick Sampson. He had fair hair and blue eyes. Fidge treated his fag well, no violence, even when his shoes were not cleaned as well as he desired, or his toast was slightly burnt. There was certainly no sexual molestation. As the final term progressed Lex often noticed that there was a smirk on young Sampson's face when he left the room.

It was early in June that Sampson protested at his ejection. Lex had come into the room, and instead of making a quick exit young Sampson carried on with what he was doing.

"Out, Sammy, out!" said Fidge.

"Why? Why can't I stay?"

"We want to be alone together, to have a private chat, without your big ears flapping around."

"Just chatting? Is that why you lock the door as soon as I have gone?"

"How do you know that?"

"I can hear the lock being turned. Why can't I join in with the two of you?"

"What do you mean?" said Lex and Fidge in unison.

"Well. I reckon you wouldn't lock the door just to talk together. Nor would you lock it if you were going to smoke or have a drink of wine or even something stronger. Card playing and gambling even is openly done. No one around here would take it out on you for doing those things. All you top years do that sort of thing."

"So?"

""I reckon you two get up to something you don't want anyone else to know about. I think you have some fun together."

"Fun? what do you mean by fun?" asked Lex.

"I've noticed the way you look at each other. Where you look." He rubbed his crotch and grinned.

"You're a cheeky lad, Sammy. I think you deserve a beating for suggesting we have `fun', as you put it." said Fidge.

"I'd just like to join the two of you!"

"In having fun?" said Lex.

"And how would you like us to start?" asked Fidge.

Sampson rubbed his crotch again. "You usually have a horn on when you come into this room. And you get one as soon as he comes in."

Lex and Fidge took a quick look at each other.

"And I suppose you never get a horn?" asked Fidge.

"Oh, I get one all right. Just thinking what you two are probably doing as soon as I have gone."

"You are very cheeky for a first year fag." said Fidge, glancing hurriedly at Lex with an enquiring look in his eye.

Lex gave a slight nod.

"I think you should be punished." Fidge thought for a moment. "Take you clothes off, Sammy."

"What! All of them?"

"Yes, all of them. Quickly now." Fidge stepped over to the door and turned the lock.

Sammy bent down and took off his shoes, then he pulled off his shirt, and slowly lowered his britches.

"And you can take your socks off too; and take your hands away from your pintle," ordered Fidge.

"Reluctantly Sammy removed his hands, exposing himself to the full view of the other two.

"Not bad for a young un," commented Fidge.

"Another two or three years and it will be a really big one, if you will be able to see it. He's already quite hairy down there."

Fidge took a step forward and lightly held Sammy's limp prick. It immediately began to harden. "He likes his pintle being held."

Lex moved round behind Sammy, and gave one of his bum cheeks a slight squeeze.

"He likes that!" said Fidge as he felt the younger boys prick harden in his hand. "Who do you have fun with then, Sammy?"

"No one here. One of our footmen introduced me."

"A footman' eh?"

"How old is he?"

"In his early twenties."

"And what do you do together?"

"He comes to my room in the middle of the night, and gets into bed with me. Then we have fun."

"And now you want to have fun with the two of us?"

Sammy nodded.

Lex's prick was now ramrod hard. He adjusted it in his britches, but immediately decided to go further. He quickly, and silently, undid the opening and pulled his prick out. He sat down on a chair and putting his hands on Sammy's hips began to pull him gently backwards.

Fidge could see what was going on so he got down on his knees, and moved closer to Sammy.

Sammy jolted when he felt the hot hardness of Lex's prick against the crack of his bum cheeks. Lex continued to pull the lad backwards, and Fidge moved forward and engulfed Sammy prick in his mouth.

"If this is the punishment I shall ask for more."

Sammy wriggled his behind trying to get Lex's hard prick to penetrate, but there was no lubrication. He enjoyed the pressure from behind, and groaned with mounting appreciation as Fidge sucked his prick. All too soon his spunk was being deposited in Fidge's mouth.

"Well," said Fidge a few moments later. "I think we have started something today, don't you."

"I hope so," said Lex, "I only wish I had been able to get my pizzle up his arse hole. Needed some butter or something to ease it in."

"I'd like that too," said Sammy, "Can I stay now?"

Lex and Fidge, giving each other a quick glance, nodded. Sammy got down on his knees and opened up Fidge's britches, and pulled out the hard prick that had been trying to get in on the scene for the last few minutes. Sammy put it into his mouth, and began to use his tongue and suck.

"You've done that before, Sammy haven't you?"

The response was just a nod, as Sammy had his mouth full.

"Your footman teach you how to do it?"

Again the answer was just a nod.

Meanwhile Lex had found Fidge's lump of butter that they used on these occasions, and began to apply it to Sammy's arse. He pushed first one, and then a second finger in. He was determined to get his prick in there as soon as Sammy had finished sucking off Fidge. That did not take very long. Soon Fidge was breathing deeply, and tensing his body. With a cry of relief he shot several loads of spunk deep into the younger boy's mouth.

As soon Sammy let Fidge's slackening prick out of his mouth, Lex lifted the younger boy so he was bending over the edge of Fidge's bed. His arse was fully exposed. Without saying a further word Lex positioned, himself, so his prick was on target. His preparation, and the fact that a footman's prick had been that way many times before, meant that his own prick slid in easily. Sammy responded by wriggling his arse so that the penetration was a deep as possible.

"I wish I'd asked you to do that at the beginning of the year," came the voice of Sammy largely muffled by the bedclothes.

"We'll just have to make up for lost time," said Lex. He took it slowly, enjoying each thrust to the full. But it was more than obvious that Sammy was enjoying the treatment he was receiving.

"Can I receive yours next," said Sammy looking round at Fidge.

"If that's what you want." Fidge took the opportunity to remove all his clothes, while watching Lex nailing Sammy.

When Lex had finished, Sammy got fully on to the bed and lay on his belly. Fidge was all ready. Soon his prick was servicing the younger boy.

At the end of their time together there were three rather tired, but very contented young men.

"I think that has solved your problem, Lex, for next year, when I have left school."

"I think so too."

Sammy just gave a very broad grin, and he looked at Lex with a very enthusiastic glint in his eyes.

*** 888

Alex arrived back in Whitgest in the second week in July. He immediately went out riding on Artie; and within thirty six hours had renewed intimate contact with both Billy and Ralph.

Everything changed six days after his return home. In the morning the usual maid went upstairs with a cup of chocolate to awaken Sir Edward. When she knocked on the door there was no answer. She knocked again. She then quietly opened the door, and saw Sir Edward in his night-shirt lying back on the bed in an awkward posture. She realised that something was seriously amiss, and ran downstairs to get help. Fortunately she met Simcox, the new butler, and told him what she had seen. The butler rushed upstairs and going into Sir Edward's bedroom soon discovered that his employer was dead.

The next few hours were chaotic at Whitgest Hall. Thomas was soon found, he was studying Hebrew in the quiet of the library. Lex was out riding and arranging to meet up with Billy later in the day. The village parson was quickly informed and he made his arthritic way up to the Hall to console the family. One of the servants was sent to toll the church bell. Nine rings in three groups of three, with a pause between the groups. This denoted the death of a man, and then the tolling of the bell seventy times, once for each year of Sir Edward's life.

Three days later Sir Edward Penbarton, the third Baronet, was buried in the family vault in the churchyard surrounding Whitgest Church. There was a large turnout of villagers. He was not just the local squire, and, to many of them, their landlord, he was also a popular man. His sexual activities were widely known, and were not held against him because he always took an interest in all his offspring whichever side of the blanket they were born. Many villagers thought that Sir Edward's death marked the end of an era for the village.

Lady Penbarton had died while Alex was still a small boy, and though he had his memories of her, he had no recollection of the funeral. For Thomas it was different, he remembered only too well the death and the funeral service of their mother. He remembered too his father's grief at the death of his wife. Thomas and Lex stood side by side throughout the service in the church. They walked behind the coffin as it was carried by tenant farmers or their sons, out to the family vault. They saw the coffin placed inside, and the vault closed. Both wondered when the vault would next be opened, and for whom.

The notable absentee from all these funereal activities was Sir Edward's eldest son, Lex's brother, Edward, who had now become the new Sir Edward. He was still away somewhere on the continent with his new wife, Caroline. Letters had been sent to various places known to be on their itinerary, but there was no knowing when they would hear the news, and when they would return.

The death of their father, and the decisions that they had had to make, had brought the two brothers closer together. They were very different.COLON Thomas introspective, quiet and studious.COMMA Lex far more on an extrovert, enjoying the outdoors, as well as his other activities. Lex was pleasantly surprised to find that Thomas was approachable, thoughtful of others, and had a quiet sense of humour. Thomas was pleasantly surprised to find that Lex was not just out for a good time, that there was a sensitive side to him, and that he felt their father's death acutely. AlsoCOMMA he was surprised how good Lex was at those twin pillars of an eighteenth century education Latin and Greek. The good relationship between the two brothers was to last the rest of their lives.

Life at Whitgest Hall went on, but was ALSO A MATTER OFwaiting. Someday the new Sir Edward would return, a new master, with different ideas and opinions from his father's. There would be a new Lady Penbarton, to run a household that had not known a woman's will for over ten years. There were bound to be changes. All There were bound to be changes.OMIT REPETITION All the servants awaited their new master and mistress with a certain amount of apprehension. The two brothers found that they could also share their reservations about their older brother.

It was in September, just a week before Lex was due to return for the start of his final year at school, in mid afternoon, when activity at the Hall was at its lowest daytime ebb, that a coach and four made its hurried way up to the Hall. One of the servant girls heard the coach, went to the main door, wondering who it could be. She stood aside, her mouth open in amazement, as her new master and his lady made their way into the Hall.

The next three hours were in some ways reminiscent of the hours after the discoverDISCOVERY of the DEATH OF THEold Sir Edward. There were servants rushing around everywhere. The new Sir Edward and Lady Caroline were issuing orders to all and sundry.

It was after dinner, Caroline had withdrawn, and the port was being passed round by the men, that Sir Edward asked for an account of all that had happened following the death of their father. He approved of the decisions made and actions taken by his younger brothers. He announced that he and Caroline would go to the church, and place some flowers at the family vault the following morning, and asked that Lex and Thomas go with himWITH THEM. He then went on to announcedOMIT D that there would be a number of changes made to life at the Hall. On their journey back he and Caroline had discussed in detail how they would like things to run at home. There would be an immediate tightening of the way things were organised. There were things that their father had allowed, especially over the later years, which he proposed to change. He especially heOMIT HE wanted to restrict what he regarded as the growing familiarity between the family and the household. "I don't want to hear servants, and certainly not stable boys, using just your name, Lex. I know Mr Alexander is a mouthful, I will allow Mr Alec, but not Mr Lex, and certainly not just Lex." He wanted punctuality at meals, and regular attendance at Church on Sundays. Also COMMAhe was going to start daily Family Prayers for the household,SEMI COLON he expected Thomas and Lex to be present. He would lead the prayers, at least to begin with; but later he would allow Thomas, as a potential parson, to lead them. So he went on,NEW SENTENCE most of his proposals affected the household, but Thomas and Lex thought they would be less free.

On the first morning after their return Sir Edward summoned all the staff to meet in the library. He formally introduced Caroline to them as the new lady of the house. He told them how he wanted things to be run, and held the first Family Prayers. This last came as a complete surprise to all involved.

It took the household a couple of months to adjust to the new regime. At first the changes were resented and unpopular, but Sir Edward and Lady Caroline were not tyrants. Soon the servants realised that there was something to be said for a well HYPHENrun household.

Caroline's breakHYPHEN through with the household staff came when she discovered the lowest kitchen maid struggling to do her work with a very bad cold and fever. The girl was sent off to bed. Later that day Caroline made her way up to the top of the house to the room which the kitchen maid shared with another servant. She had herself brought up a hot drink for the girl. Caroline ordered the kitchen maid that she was not to return to work until she had said so. The poor girl was only unfit for work for a couple of days, but she returned to the kitchen full of praise for the way the lady of the house had taken care of her, "More than would have happened in old Sir Edward's day," she said.

Sir Edward and Lady Caroline lived comfortably, but not extravagantly. As one who had been influenced by the teaching of John Wesley, he saw himself as responsible for both the spiritual and material welfare of those who worked for him. There was money to spare. It may not have been the `hail fellow, well met', regime of his father, but Edward visited all the farms, and took note of buildings that needed repair, and some of the workers cottages that needed replacing. Caroline tended to look after the women folk of the village, SEMI COLONshe was especially caring when visiting of those who were sick.

Life changed for Lex's brother Thomas one day a few months later. Sir Edward had to go up to London to visit his lawyer. Caroline said she was too busy to accompany him, so he asked Thomas to go with him. The lawyer, a Mr Ward, had found old Sir Edward a good client, and was eager to remain the lawyer to the Penbarton family. The business was soon accomplished, but an invitation was extended to the two brothers to dine at home with Mr Ward.

Mr Ward had a daughter, in fact a beautiful and vivacious daughter. When she and Thomas caught sight of each other it was a case of love at first sight. It is not the purpose of this story to tell in detail their courtship except in so far INSOFARas it affects Lex.

Those who knew either Thomas or Georgina Ward were surprised at their romance. She was lively and attractive, and on social occasions was always surrounded by a bevy of admiring young men. Thomas was thin and pale, and in no way could be described as handsome. He was shy and studious; she was extrovert and humorous.BUT Attracted to each other they both were. There were hidden depths in them both. Her father had made sure that his daughter was not the typical ill-educated woman of the time, skilled only in painting water colours, music and needlework. He had himself taught her Latin and Greek. Thomas was found to have a romantic streak. Within a week he was composing poems, in Latin, or Greek, and indeed sometimes in English, expressing his love for Georgina. She was no poet, but delighted herself, and him, when she could identify some classical allusion or quotation.

Over the next few months Thomas spent more time staying at the Penbarton town house. The Wards also visited Whitgest, just a day's journey from London. Very soon Georgina met the younger brother, Lex. There was an immediate rapport between them. They would talk together, with much laughter and teasing.

The relationship between Thomas and Georgina met with the full approval of Sir Edward and his wife. Edward thought he detected a serious and a spiritual interest in Georgina, and that she would make a good partner for Thomas, and a good parson's wife.

So Lex went back to school for the next school year. He now had a room of his own, and Sammy was a frequent, and at least a daily, visitor. Fidge had gone up to Oxford University, and sent them a couple of letters saying that he had made a couple of like minded friends! It had been decided that Lex would do a year at Cambridge University before going into the army.

He came home to Whitgest for Christmas and Easter as the school was not so far away as to preclude travelling home for the shorter holidays. Edward was now firmly in control of his domain. He was a conscientious squire, and was respected as an honest and caring employer and landlord. His wife Caroline, was a rather humourless person, and given to doing her duty. She visited the sick, often bringing gifts relevant to the age and sex of the invalid concerned.

The locals kept a watchful eye on her waist-line expecting and wanting a ANheir to the baronetcy. Meanwhile Thomas' romance with Georgina Ward flourished. They were given to study, but she brought fun and laughter into their studies. They enjoyed quoting obscure Latin and Greek authors to each other, and delighted when the other one could not identify the source of the quotation. When there had been a verbal exchange at the dinner table Edward would just smile,SEMI COLON a few of the quotations he knew from his own studies, but the classical, or profane, authors as he called them, did not really interest him. Edward studied his Bible carefully. He encouraged Thomas in his study of Hebrew, and asked him about the exact meaning of certain passages in the Hebrew Old TestamentDO YOU NEED BOTH HEBREW AND OLD?.

Into this family circle Lex paid his Christmas and Easter visits. His linguistic skills helped him join in the erudite conversations over dinner. But he delighted in riding his beloved Artemis, in hunting over the Christmas period, and of course, INtimes spent with Billy Blackstone and Ralph Tooley.

Lex looked forward to the summer holiday from school and his sixteenth birthday. He was maturing fast. He was now more the man that he was to be than the boy that he once was. He was reckoned to be tall among his peers - he stood at five foot eight inches in his stocking feet. There was only one boy taller than him in his class. His hair was still very fair, and his blue eyes often twinkled with amusement. In fact life was for him a great adventure, full of fun. As he journeyed home to the Hall at Whitgest he thought of all the things he would be doing. The first free moment after greeting his serious minded older brother Sir Edward Penbarton and his wife Caroline would be to go for a ride on Artemis. He hoped he would see Ralph Tooley who had been doing his usual termHYPHEN time task of looking after the horse, and could arrange to meet up with him later in the evening. He smiled to himself as he thoughTHOUGHT of Ralph and his other close sexual friend Billy Blackstone. But there were serious things as well. His other brother Thomas was to marry Georgina Ward at the church of St Clement Danes in London at the end of August. He knew it would not be the Acostly and elaborate affair like the marriage of Edward to Caroline. But he liked both of them, and he knew he was to be the best man. His older brother had rather ungraciously accepted this on the grounds that he was married and the best man ought to be unmarried!

This led Lex to think about marriage. Would he get married? He thought not. But he would like to know what it was like to fuck a woman. Was it as good as with a man? Did it feel the same, or was it in some way different? He knew many of his contemporaries at school dreamt of fucking a girl, and indeed one or two had. There were those who could find a servant girl who was willing, or could be seduced, into opening her legs for a young master, in spite of the risks involved. He knew very few girls, and he was in no way attracted to any of them. Did adult men like fucking and playing with other adult men? He wondered. He thought they must do when he remembered those paragraphs in the London papers about men found committing disgusting acts with other men, and being put in the pillory or sent to gaol.SEE TRIAL OF EARL OF CASTLEHAVEN 1631. MAYBE IT WAS NOT SO SERIOUS OVER A CENTURY LATER.

His arrival home went as expected. His elder brother had greeted him as warmly as he was capableOF. His other brother Thomas had even got up from his books and given him a hug, and asked how he was, rather than talking enthusiastically about some suffix to a Hebrew verb! Lady Caroline had welcomed him back, and offered her cheek to be kissed. Conversation over dinner had concentrated on his term at school. As he had continued to work had at the usual classical languages and had done some mathematics he had metWITH the approval of both brothers, though for different reasons. Edward approved of his hard work, and Thomas of his interest in languages. It was the middle of the evening when he had been able to slip away up to the linhay in the top field. Ralph was already there.

"I didn't tell Billy you was back. I thought I'd `ave you to myself."

Lex laughed. "Three is fun, but often one or other feels a bit left out. I can concentrate on you, Ralph Tooley. You be the master this evening. What do you want?"

"I want to get my hard pizzle right up that lovely arse of yours. So my balls are banging into your balls when I hump you."

"That's fine by me."

It was a warm evening so they completely undressed and enjoyed each other on a sunlit pile of hay. Ralph's greased prick was soon slipping into Lex, right up to the hilt.

"You're better than ever, Master Lex."

When they had climaxed they lay back in the failing sunshine, both still warm, both still naked, both very contented.

"Do you think of getting married, Ralph?"

There was a pause. "Yes, at some time. A man in a village who doesn't marry is seen as odd. Who's to look after him when he's old?"

"Any one in mind?"

"Not yet. Give it another few years. I'm happy having it off with you and Billy."

"Have you ever done it with a girl?"

"No. `Ave you?"

"No but some of the boys at school have."

"And some poor servant girl got in the family way!"

"Yes. What happens to servant girls who catch on, Ralph?"

"They're usually sent packing. And no one wants to take on a lass with a bun in the oven."

"No I suppose not. It seems rather hard on the lass though. The man gets away Scot free."

"It's the way it goes. Man's world."

Lex turned on his side and began to play with Ralph's prick. Soon they were into the second round of that evening's activities.

In late July Sir Edward and Lady Caroline invited some friends to stay for a few days at Whitgest Hall. One couple fitted in well to the present regime at the Hall, as they were both seriousHYPHEN minded people, very influenced by the Evangelical Revival. The other two were something of a miss-matchedMISMATHCHED pair. The husband was an old school acquaintance of Edward's, and a sound member of the Established Church, but his wife was a flibbertygibbet. She delighted in the most trivial of news and in the spreading of gossip.

It was the second day of their visit, and the main meal of the day had been taken in the late afternoon. Lex had stayed with the men while the port had been passed round, but he was eager to get away as he had arranged to meet Billy up at the linhay later that evening. Eventually the men rose, and went to join the ladies in the withdrawing room. Lex took the opportunity to slip away. No one noticed.

It had been a very hot day, but now the coolness of evening was making being outside pleasant. Lex walked over the couple of fields whistling to himself. That was something that his elder brother disapproved of, as he thought it was a practise of the common folk and not of the gentry. He was full of the joys of life, and looking forward to an hour or so with Billy Blackstone.

Lex was the first to arrive, so he settled down on the hay in the sunny corner of the linhay, and sucked on a long stem of grass. Browning was yet unborn, so the words of the poem were not yet written, but if Lex had known them they expressed what he was feeling, `God's in his heaven - All's right with the world!'

Ten minutes later Billy arrived, and threw himself down beside Lex. "So how are you? Ready for it?"

"We've got visitors at the Hall, so I was glad to slip away. Anyway you know I'm always ready for it." He turned on to his side and began to tickle Billy's ear with the stem of grass he was sucking.

"I want you to tickle my arse with something hotter and stronger than a piece of grass."

"I can do that for you, willingly. And deposit a load of hot fresh spunk deep inside you."

"Good." Billy rolled onto his side to face Lex. "I've got some news for you. I fucked a lass a couple of days ago. First time!"

Lex looked at Billy in amazement. "Was it her first time too?"

"No. She's had two or three lads."

"Weren't you afraid she'd catch on?"

"She said it was all right. Her mother says there are certain days in the month when its safe, and it were one of them days."

"What was it like."

"Great."

"Like when we do it?"

"No it were different. My cock slipped in more easily than into you or Ralph. It's easier in some ways, I was able to lie on top of her and kiss her, and play with her tits while I was doing it. There did seem to be one difference."

"What was that?

"When we fuck each other there seems to be something inside us which when your cock rubs against it, makes it feel real good. The lass, took my hand and placed it just inside her, and made me feel a little lump. `Rubbing that makes it good for me,' she said. I rubbed it with my finger, and she liked it, when I was inside her I concentrated on trying to push and move on it, and she liked that."

"Will you do it again with her?"

"Yes. she wants me to. She said I was the best she'd had. I didn't shoot my spunk as soon as I'd got up her cunt."

"All the hard work you've put in so you don't shoot too soon when you're in me," said Lex with a laugh.

"She'd let me feel her tits once or twice before."

"What was that like?"

"They felt so soft, and warm and smooth."

"Are you going to break a shilling with her?" [In the early C18 a man and woman would break a shilling each keeping half as a sign that they intended to get married. This custom was probably dying out by the 1770s, but as I recently read about it, it was too good a custom not to mention!]SHOULD THIS BE AN ENDNOTE?

"May be. I think she'd make a good wife."

"Do you still want to do it with me, if it was so good?"

"Of course. I wouldn't have come all the way up here if I wasn't looking forward to being with you." Billy's hand reached across to feel at Lex's crotch. He felt a hardening. "You don't mind what I've done with her?"

"No. Of course not."

"Would you like to do it with a lass?"

"I've been thinking about that, what with Thomas getting married in three weeks time. I think I would like to, at least once."

"Will you get married if you can."

"I don't know about that. Will you?"

"Oh yes. I want someone to look after me in my old age, and to have some kids."

"I think I want to be free when I go into the army. I think a wife would tie me down. I want to be able to go places, and do things without thinking about wife and kids. I don't need to have children. Edward and Thomas will see to that."

Lex' prick was now hard as Billy had worked his hand right in so that he could feel it and the balls below.

"You rouse me well, Billy, my man. I bet you're hard as iron already." Lex now felt at Billy's crotch and discovered he was correct.

"I want you to fuck me this evening. Fuck me hard and long. Fuck me like a stallion on a mare until the sun goes down and the moon comes up and I finally shoot my spunk on the hay below."

"That means a jolly long fuck! I will see what I can do." Lex moved towards Billy and put an arm round him, pulling him closer.

Billy gave Lex a kiss. "I like you Lex, I think I love you, if that doesn't sound sloppy."

"Brotherly love. We are, after all, half brothers."

"I wonder what our Dad would say?"

"I don't know. Perhaps he did this when he was younger, before he got into the girls." Lex hand had worked at Billy's prick and pulled it out into the open.

"Our pizzles are almost the same. Ralph's is different, but ours are very like."

"I wonder if we're both like our Dad?"

"Maybe."

Without a further word they both began to remove their clothes. Soon they were both completely naked.

"Let me give your pizzle a good suck first," said Billy.

"As long as you don't make me shoot."

Billy got on his knees and while Lex continued to lie on his back, he gave Lex's prick a long and very wet suck. "I want it to slip in easily."

"Don't worry. I pinched some butter from the plate a plateOMIT A PLATE at dinner. It'll probably be rather runny, but it will help."

"I want you. Lex." Billy got on to all fours so his arse was raised and was invitingly in position for Lex.

Lex got the very soft butter out, and lubricated both Billy and himself. He then shuffled on his knees into position and place his prick on Billy's arse hole.

"I do like that. Just waiting for you to go in."

Lex pushed gently several times without going in. This was all met with sounds of pleasure from Billy. Then Lex increased the pressure, and his prick made its familiar entry deep into Billy.

"I like it when I can feel your pizzle hairs and balls against me." He paused before continuing. "That's great. You can hold it there all night."

"I'll try. `Till the sun goes down, and the moon comes up', you said." He looked at the sun which was lower than when he arrived, and getting towards the tops of the bushes in the hedge to the west. "I think I can do it till the sun goes down, I'm not sure about till the moon comes up. That might be a long time."

"Longer the better."

Lex ran his hands up and down Billy's back, and reached round to get at his prick, but Billy brushed his hand away. "No tossing me off. You've got to make me shoot just using your pizzle."

Lex laughed and looked towards the sun. The shadows of the bushes in the hedgerow were stretching out towards them across the open field as the sun sank even lower. It was going to be a cloud-free sunset. He continued his steady thrusting in and out of Billy. Both young men were totally absorbed, both delighting in the feelings stirring deeply within their bodies.

Suddenly a shadow fell across them. Both young men thought it must be some cows that had wandered into the field. They looked up and saw Sir Edward, Lady Caroline, and their guests looking at them in shocked horror. The gossipy flibertygibbet fainted, - conveniently into the arms of her husband.

The next four days remained a blur in Lex's memory, though at the time each hour seemed an eternity.

Sir Edward and his party had immediately returned to the Hall. What had been started between Billy and Lex was never completed. They hurriedly dressed and went their different ways. Hardly a word was exchanged between them. Lex was confused and ashamed as he made his way in through the kitchens, hoping to make his way quietly and unobserved to his room. Simcox, the butler saw him. "Sir Edward wishes to see you in the library."

Lex went into the library. Edward was pacing the room. He glared at Lex. "I have never in all my life been so ashamed. To find you behaving like a rutting animal in the open air! Not with some village girl, or servant lass here, but with another man! That would be bad enough. You realise that if you had been caught doing that in London you would might have been thrown into the Thames, or put in the pillory, or sent to the Clink. It was a disgusting sight! My own brother. And to make it worse in front of Charlotte Browne. It will be round the whole county within twenty four hours, you know what a gossip she is. Not only was it revolting, it was - - incestuous too! [That was the one and only time that Edward acknowledged that he had step siblings in the village]

Lex stood there shame faced, looking down at the floor.

"I have not decided what to do with you yet. You obviously cannot stay here. You have made our name a scandal and laughing-stock in the county. Until arrangements have been made you will eat all meals in your room, and spend as much time ASyou can in your room. Perhaps you will meditate on your ways. Maybe you will repent. You can ride that horse of yours for a couple of hours each afternoon, but must keep to the top two fields."

Lex tried to mutter some regret for what had happened, but Edward would not allow him to continue. "Go, go to your room, before I throw you out of this house, and out of the parish!"

After a sleepless night, Lex heard the guests leaving in the middle of the morning. His meals where brought up to his room by Simcox, the butler. Simcox was in his thirties, a young man to be a butler. His suave ingratiating manner had worked on Edward, who got his father to make him the butler. He would do exactly what Sir Edward ordered, no less and no more. He just handed the tray to Lex. No words were exchanged, Sir Edward had commanded COMMAand it was done.

In the afternoon Lex crept out of his room and down to the stable. He saddled up Artemis, and for the first time rode her without enthusiasm and joy.

The next day was much the same. He heard Thomas' voice once, but no sound of any other member of the family. When he took Artemis back to the stable Ralph came to speak with him.

"I've heard what happened," Ralph whispered. "We've been ordered not to talk with you; but Lady Caroline is resting, and Sir Edward has gone off to London."

Lex looked at him sadly. "How's Billy?"

"Billy's gone. Apparently first thing yesterday morning Sir Edward went down to Billy's. He told him he was to leave the village before sunset."

"The bastard!"

"No completely. He gave Billy £1AND TOLD HIM I want you gone, and you're never to come back."

£1 at the end of the Eighteenth Century was a lot of money,NEW SENTENCE it could have been much much less, or even nothing at all.

"I don't know what Edward has in store for me."

"He hasn't slung you out on your ear."

"Yet," added Lex with a slight grin.

They gave each other a quick hug, and parted.

Lex saw Edward from his window ride up the drive. There were the usual sounds of activity from downstairs that marked the return of the master of the house.

An hour later there was a knock on his bedroom door and the butler entered. "Sir Edward wishes to see you in the library, Master Alexander."

Lex made his way down to the library, knocked and entered. Edward was standing looking out of the window into the park.

"As you may, or may not know, I have been to London." He turned. "I have made arrangements for your future. Because you are my brother, and I am a merciful man, I have not arranged what you deserve. A horse whipping and being sent from this house without a penny is what you deserve, As I have said you cannot stay here, a stumbling block and laughing stock in the County! I have made arrangements for you to go to India. You will become a clerk with the East India Company. I have bought your position, and paid for your passage. You are to go to India and never to return to this country. How you make out in India is up to you. The climate I am told is unhealthy in many parts. Some make a fortune. Sir Robert Clive did, and I gather that chap Hastings seems to be doing so at the moment. I think it more likely that you will sink. Doubtless among the heathen there are those of a like propensity to yourself.

"I have done what I think is my duty towards you. When you leave this house, I shall no longer regard you as my brother. I do not wish to hear anything further from you, or of you. Your ship is the London and she leaves London on the 15th August,IN just two weeks' time. I'll send Ralph Tooley with you to London. He knows his way round London as he has been there with me several times. He will see you get on the ship.

Until you leave you can move about the house and ride in the park. On no account are you to go into the village, nor attend Family Prayers here in the library, unless you make an earnest public confession and expression of repentance for your sin."

The next day two large metal trunks were placed in his room. He began to think what he would take with him. He did not have a vast quantity of clothes, and he thought he would not be needing his warmest winter clothes, though second thoughts made him he think he would need some warm clothing for the voyage out to India, especially going round the Cape of Good Hope. He selected a number of books, several wereOMIT SEVERALWERE AND SUBSTITUTE INCLUDING Latin and Greek classics. He also searched the library for something on India, but found nothing. He realised he knew next to nothing about the land which wasOMITD WHICH WAS to which he was going.

Four days before Lex was due to leave home Thomas' fiancee, Georgina Ward, came to stay for a few days. She made a special point of talking with Lex, even though there were scowls of disapproval from Edward. But Edward thought thatCOMMA with just four days to go before Thomas' departure from Whitgest for everCOMMA it was not worth making a fuss.

Lex was apprehensive as the day of his departure grew closer. For the first time in his life he would not have a loving and supportive family there behind him. He was just sixteen years old, and from then on he would be totally on his own, going to a strange land, and a strange people. He talked over his fears at length with Georgina.

Outside the west side of Whitgest Hall, there was a paved terrace, then a low wall looking down onto the gardens before the land sloped away. Lex often went out there to watch the sun go down. Two evenings before his departure Thomas and Georgina joined him.

"Lex," said Thomas, "When you get to India I hope you'll write. I know letters will take an age, several months, but let me know how you're getting on. You will always be my younger brother, NEEW SENTENCEI want to keep in contact, even if Edward does not."

"Thanks, Tom. I appreciate that. I promise I'll write, and expect a reply about a year later!"

They laughed.

"There'll be a lot of news to give you I'm sure."

"I'm sorry I'll not see the two of you wed. I'd have liked to have been your best man. But..."

"I think Edward is right, you've got to disappear. What you were up to is the talk of the village, and the county. I think Edward is possibly right in making it a permanent exile. I think that in time it may blow over, and possibly be forgotten. But we'll see. Time will tell."

Eventually it was the last evening of Lex's life at Whitgest Hall. He had eaten dinner with his brothers and their lady folk. Edward and Caroline had barely said a word, certainly nothing to Lex. Georgina tried to keep a conversation going but soon found it too difficult and the whole table lapsed into silence.

When the sun began to go down Lex went out onto the terrace. It was another glorious evening, and the sun was setting behind some layers of cloud, so that at times it shone brightly and then slipped behind the clouds for a minute or so, before appearing again. The sky was full of colour. Lex stood transfixed gazing at the scene, wondering if he would ever see another English sunset.

There was a movement beside him, and Georgina came and held his arm. For a while no word was said.

"I'm sorry you're having to go, Lex."

"I know. I was just wondering if this is my last English sunset, and what the future holds for me. India is so far away, such an unknown. All I know is that it will be hotter and very different."

"You'll manage." She gave his arm a squeeze.

He turned and gave her a smile.

"I sometimes think that there is more to you than either Edward or Thomas. You are all good men in your different ways. But you'll manage in India because you are different from them."

Lex raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Edward could not cope because his rules were not being kept as he would wish."

Lex laughed. "And Thomas?"

"Thomas, would enjoy the different languages, as indeed will you, but I think he would not cope with all the colour and different way of life. He needs a warm winter fire, and a room full of books."

Lex laughed again. "Thanks for that vote of confidence in me."

"I'll miss you." She squeezed his arm again, and pressed closer so that Lex could feel her softness beside him.

"Thomas is a very lucky man. I hope he realises that."

"I think he does. He's not a complete book worm you know." She looked up into his eyes and gave a slightly flirtatious smile.

"I'm glad to hear it. I can't imagine Thomas.....you know?"

She put a finger up to Lex's mouth to stop him saying anything more. He reached up and held the hand, and kissed the finger.

"I shall miss you too. Our talks. ..... I think you understand." He moved so as instead of leaning facing the wall he was facing Georgina.

"Thank you."

He looked down at her face, and saw too, the top of her breasts exposed to the evening air, and the dark valley between them. He remembered Billy's words about the softness and warmth of a woman's breast. He wanted to experience that for himself.

Georgina detected this, and caught hold of one of his hands and held it momentarily against her bosom, and then raised the hand to her lips and kissed it. "Let's walk a little."

They turned and began to walk along the terrace, it began to darken as the sun had now set below the distant wooded hills.

" `Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight'", said Lex.

"And all the air a solemn stillness holds," added Georgina.

"Save where the beetle wheels its droning flight,

And drowsy tinklings lull the distant folds." wasTHEY said in unison.

They both laughed.

"You like Gray?" asked Lex.

"Very much. I presume you do?"

"Yes, and I was thinking of the line `And leaves the world to darkness and to me.'"

"I think he writes well for a modern poet."

"One of our masters said that he is a very clever writer, with many hidden references to other writing."

They walked up and down the terrace discussing poetry. It was well and truly dusk now, and an owl was heard THEY HEARD AN OWLfrom the woods.

"I shall miss the owls."

"Aren't there owls in India?"

"I don't know."

"Don't be too sad. Look forward, Lex. Of you three brothers you will copeBEST. You have the greatest sense of fun."

"Fun? Fun? What do you mean?" Lex stopped and looked at Georgina.

"Weren't you having fun, enjoying yourself, when you were found by Edward."

Lex blushed slightly, but there was not enough light for Georgina to see it. He looked down, and that was straight at Georgina's breasts. Even in the dim light he looked for slightly longer than was proper. Georgina realised that. She reached down, and took his hand and placed it on her breast.

"You're fascinated by my breasts aren't you. Not having a sister, they are something new for you. Go on COMMAtouch them."

Very gently he reached out, and his fingers encountered her softCOMMA warm flesh.

"You're not the first man who has enjoyed doing that."

"Thomas."

"When I put his hand there he pulled it away and said `not till we're married.'"

Lex smiled.

"But you don't pull your hand away. You have a boldness, and a sense of fun about you."

"Who was the first?"

"A man called George. We were expecting to get married, but he suddenly got a fever and died. Six months later I met Thomas. Yes, I do love Thomas, but I know I had loved George."

Georgina undid a couple of buttons. This loosened her dress, and Lex was able to touch more. He bent down and placed a kiss on each breast. He felt too an immediate stirring in his groin. Fortunately it was nearly dark and Georgina would not see anything unusual about his britches.

MargaretWHERE DID SHE COME FROM SHOULDN'T IT BE GEORGINA? undid further buttons and Lex with great gentleness and almost reverence held her breasts in his hands. He bent down and kisses KISSEDseveral times more, and then he felt her hardened nipple against his cheek, he kissed it, and gave it a gentle suck.

"That's nice for me, Lex. George used to do that." With a hand she reached over towards Lex and felt at the front of his britches. She was not surprised to feel the hardness of his prick.

The feel of her hand completed Lex's arousal. For a moment he felt he wanted to get at more, to tear at her clothes, but this was new territory for him. A woman, seemingly offering herself to him. He was gentle, and Georgina was obviously enjoying his kissing of her breasts.

"George and I several times....."

"Billy had a girl, said it was wonderful."

"George was wonderful. Do you want to?"

He nodded. It was strange that at that moment a couple of lines from one of Thomas Gray's poems came into his mind with the words drastically distorted. `What female heart can pricks despise? What man's averse to maids.'

"Where can we go?"

"There's the gazebo OMT THE REST OF THS SENTNCE SINCE IT COMES INTO THE NEXTat the end of the terrace."

The gazebo had recently been built at the end of the terrace, It was a small brick structure, a summer house, with windows looking out over the gardens and the ha-ha [See footnote 2] to the valley beyond. There was a bench that ran round the inside.

Hand in hand they made their way to the gazebo. Once inside they hugged and kissed again. Then Georgina lifted up her skirts. It was only later, days later, that Lex remembered that she had not been wearing any drawers. He undid his britches and dropped them to the ground.

Georgina got onto the bench with one leg on it, and the other foot placed on the floor. It was not the most comfortable of positions, but it gave Lex easy access. She took hold of his prick and placed it in position. He pushed, and to his surprise it slipped easily in, far more easily that it usually did to Billy or Ralph. Once in COMMAhe kept still. He did not want this to be over in one minute. It was a fortunate minute because he remembered what Billy had told him. He remembered to concentrate not on his prick deep in Georgina, that would come later, but on what Billy had described as a little lump. He could not feel anything, but he was obviously doing the right things, because there was a groan of pleasure from Georgina.

It was not the most comfortable of couplings. Lex had his britches round his ankles, and Georgina had her skirts up, But he could get a hand to her soft warm breasts, and she could feel his prick deep inside her, and his movement were arousing her in a way George's had never done.

"Lex, what are you doing to me?"

"Why? Am I hurting you?"

"No. I've never felt like this before. Keep on; it's wonderful." She cried out and rolled from side to side in ecstasy. Lex could hold back no longer, he felt his seed pour out into Georgina.

They lay back panting for breath.

"Thanks Lex. I will always remember you for that. It was wonderful."

Lex's prick went limp and slipped out of Georgina. They both giggled. Lex moved, and stood up. He pulled up his britches. Georgina tidied herself, and smoothed her skirts.

"I will go in first, you follow in a few minutes, Lex. I'll not say goodbye in the morning." She kissed him, and stepped out of the gazebo, and was gone.

Lex stood there in a daze at what had happened. It was the first and only time he ever went with a woman.

Footnote:-

1. Virtually every school, whether boarding or not, is split into houses, which provide a basis for competition with in a school. Winners at athletics won points for their house. Those acquainted with the activities of Harry Potter will be aware of this at Hogwart's School.

2. Ha-ha a wall or boundary marker set in a ditch so as not to interrupt the view of the landscape, and to stop cattle, deer, etc. getting into the garden. Often found on country estates.