CHAPTER VIII.
Fanny Hill.—Masturbation.—Friend Henry.—Under street-
gratings at the gunmaker's.—A frigging match.—Sights from
below.—In a back street.—A prick in petticoats.—
Evacuations.—Ladies scared.
I went back to London, and resumed my preparations. Penniless, I tried to get money from my mother, but could not. I tried to feel our ugly housemaid, who threatened to tell. Just then a friend lent me Fanny Hill, how well I recollect that day, it was a sunshiny afternoon, I devoured the book and its luscious pictures, and although I never contemplated m**********n, lost all command of myself, frigged, and spent over a picture as it lay before me. I did not know how to clean the book and the table-cover.
Fascinated although annoyed with myself, I repeated the act till not a drop of sp
