Frightened in my heart like a trapped animal, I went in. Down a long, dusk, musty-smelling corridor and into a back-apartment on the first floor; she led me into a room which was bed-and-sitting room combined. In one part of it stood several upholstered chairs with covers on, cluttered about a plain table. In the other part stood a bureau heaped with promiscuous toilette articles, and a huge, brass-knobbed bed with a spread of lace over its great, semi-upright pillows. "Shall I let in a little more light, dear?" "Do." For the blinds were two-thirds down. "I like to sit and think in the dark," she explained, and her one dimple broke in a rich, brown-faced animal smile. "Yes, but I--I want to see your lovely face," I stuttered, with much effort at gallantry.... * * * * * "He's not at home ... he's off at Wilmington, on a job" (meaning her husband, though I had not asked about him). "But what made you come so soon? You must of just got my letter!" "I--I wanted you," I blurted ... in the next moment I was at her feet in approved romantic fashion, following up my declaration of desire. Calmly she let me kneel there ... I put my arms about her plump legs ... I was almost fainting.... After a while she took me by the hair with both hands. She slowly bent my head back as I knelt. Leaning over, she kissed deliberately, deeply into my mouth ... then, gazing into my eyes with a puzzled expression, as I relaxed to her--almost like something inanimate.... "Why, you dear boy, I believe you're innocent like a child. And yet you know so much about books ... and you're so wise, too!" As she spoke she pushed back my mad hands from their clutching and reaching. She held both of them in hers, and closed them in against her half-uncovered, full breasts, pressing them there. "Do you mean to tell me that you've never gone out with the boys for a good time?... how old are you?" I told her I was just sixteen. "Do you think I'm ... I'm too young?" I asked. "I feel as if I was your mother ... and I'm not much over twenty ... but do sit up on a chair, dear!" She stood on her feet, shook out her dress, smiled curiously, and started out of the room. I was up and after her, my arms around her waist, desperate. She slid around in my arms, laughing quietly to herself till the back of her head was against my mouth. I kissed and kissed the top of her head. Then she turned slowly to face me, pressing all the contours of her body into me ... she crushed her bosom to mine. Already I was quite tall; and she was stocky and short ... she lifted her face up to me, a curious kindling light in her eyes ... of a phosphorescent, greenish lustre, like those chance gleams in a cat's eyes you catch at night.... She took my little finger and deliberately bit it ... then she leaned away from my seeking mouth, my convulsive arms.... "You want too much, all at once," she said, and, whirling about broke away....