Jacky S - Suburban Souls, Book II

“Then I should not like it!” she exclaimed, with a disdainful toss of her pretty head.

Raoul now appeared on the scene and joined us in a glass of champagne; Lilian told me I was to spend all day with them and return to dinner in their company at the villa, but I demurred, saying that I had already been there the day before, and such behavior would savour intrusion. Lilian told me to have confidence in her and not to prevent her bringing about our mutual happiness in her own way. I accepted, thinking in petto, she was the mistress of the house.

Raoul and his sister whispered together, and begging to be excused, both of them went off to see somebody who was employed at the American bar, which is in another part of the building, and it struck me that Lilian was well-known in the establishment. I knew it was frequented by many officers. She returned soon with Raoul, giggling and whispering foolishly with him, and we began to talk about starting on our tour down the boulevards, to join in the paper war, which had already waxed fast and furious. Lilian boldly said before her brother that she wanted to do a little “pee” first, and we waited until she came back, with a fresh dab of powder on the end of her insolent nose.

After loading ourselves with bags of confetti, we were soon lost in the fray, and I cannot now remember how much we used, but none of the ladies on the boulevards that day were more audacious than Lilian. She attacked all good-looking young men, fighting till vanquished and surrounded, as she always was, by a crowd of lusty males, who, under pretence of covering her with confetti, popped their fingers down her neck, or pinched her posteriors. I am sure she liked the rough horseplay, although she would break away from her tormentors and throw herself in my arms, hiding her head in my breast, which ostrich-like proceeding dispersed the attacking party, and she drew breath until the next onslaught. I noticed that she rushed at all soldiers in uniform, especially young and handsome officers, and, boldly making a stand in front of them, defied them, as it were, to mortal combat, and my suspicious mind, remembering her talk of Boxing-night, immediately gave her an officer as a lover.

The battle continued without interruption until nearly six o'clock, with only one or two interruptions, when, seeking the shelter of a doorway, we extracted tiny fragments of paper from Lilian's beautiful eyes.

I fully entered into the fun of the riotous public romp, and we gradually got away from the best part of the boulevards. As dusk came on, liberty degenerated into license, and I amused myself by making Lilian a little jealous by the sight of my vile behavior to ladies in the crowd. I approached them with hands outstretched, as if to throw confetti, but I only put exploring digits down their necks, or even went to the extent of pressing their breasts, when the bust of an unknown beauty looked tempting. It was a rare treat to mark their cry of stupefaction at being so imprudently outraged by a stranger, and before they could recover, I was off, seeking fresh game.

Tired out, dusty and with her luxuriant locks full of bits of colored paper, Lilian cried, “Enough!” and we made the best of our way to the Eastern railway station where, having a little time to spare, I treated the two young people to refreshment and supplied Raoul with cigars.

In due time we reached Sonis, Lilian being very tender in the train, and Raoul turning out a model of discretion.

I found Papa reading some of my magazines, and whether I was expected by him I know not; but Mamma had not been warned, as I caught her on my arrival in the kitchen, superintending the preparation of the dinner, and attired in a dirty old dressing-gown.

Everything passed off very agreeably, and everybody treated me with the utmost cordiality, while Lilian insisted on putting on her Japanese costume once more, and I made my appearance in the dining-room attired as a Jap as well, Lilian having fished out for me a man's oriental gown, in which I looked as ridiculous as possible. Mamma set her face against Lilian's masquerade, and said it was not convenable, especially before me.

At dinner, Lilian was seated next to her Papa. I was at the lower end of the table, on Lilian's right, and she pulled her clothes halfway up her leg, and threw one over mine, keeping it there during the whole of the meal, without attempting any disguise.

After dinner, all the womenfolk went away with Raoul to prepare for his departure, as he had to return to his regiment by a late train that night, and a large basket of eatables was got ready for him.

During this time, I sat and smoked a pipe with Papa, and his talk as usual took an obscene turn. I promised to bring him a small parcel of books from my little collection, and mentioned The Romance of Lust.

At this moment, he got up to fetch an ash-tray, and turned his back to the door, at which Lilian appeared and, looking at me without uttering a word, threw up her clothes, completely exposing her legs encased in black stockings, and her drawers, which, half-open in front-purposely, no doubt-showed a portion of the liberal growth of black hair which hid the mark of her sex. Papa turned round-she was gone!

Resuming our confab, Papa asked me what The Romance of Lust was about, and I told him a few of the leading incidents, as far as I could remember. He expressed surprise, and I answered him very slowly and deliberately:

“I am never surprised at anything where passion is concerned!”

He did not reply, but I saw the same dull, blank expression that always spread over his face when nonplussed, and neither of us spoke for a few seconds, until Papa rose, and making some excuse, left me alone.

Raoul now took an affectionate leave of his Mamma and Granny, who idolized him, and Lilian, covering up her Japanese costume with an ample waterproof, accompanied Raoul and me to the station, Papa following us.

On the way, she told me that she had arranged for me to be invited on Friday, to have a long day's work at photography with Papa, and suddenly in a mock whisper, said, lovingly:

“I am going to tell you a secret!”

“Proceed, your story interests me!”

“You are a dirty pig!”

“That is no secret!”

“No, but this is: I love you, just because you are an adorable dirty pig. I should hate a man, if he was not horribly naughty, as you are!”

When we reached the platform, she managed to get me into a dark corner and give me one of those delirious, long, wet kisses which she knew how to make thoroughly enjoyable. It was only interrupted by the appearance of Papa, and if I did not know he was short-sighted, I should have thought he saw us.

“Papa! Mr. S…has been telling me about a book on photography he has got for you!”

Papa did not reply, but only grunted, and Lily continued, with a merry twinkle in her eye:

“Oh, Papa, he is such an awfully naughty man, and so vicious!”

There was another awkward pause, until I laughed, and made some joke or the other, and we all said good bye, but not until Papa had forced me to accept an invitation to spend the day of Friday and have a long spell of photography.

The dog Pip was mine now. I took it to Paris either Shrove Tuesday, or the day before, as near as I can now remember, and Lilian seemed very affected at parting with the pretty little animal she had brought up with so much care for Jacky.

I concluded this eventful day for me by a long conversation in the train with Raoul, when I tried all I knew to give him good advice, so that he should not get into any scrapes at Belfort, and he seemed sensible and grateful for my counsel. I could not have said much more had he been my son, as I had been led to believe that Mr. Arvel never took the trouble to speak to him at all.