Anonymous - Memoirs of a Voluptuary, or the Secret Life of an English Boarding School

Once when I was out for a walk with my usual chums, Jimmy crawled through a little gap in a tall hedge in order to see what was on the other side. He was back in a moment with his finger to his lips and beckoned us to come through. We did so very cautiously and on penetrating the screen of foliage, saw Davenport and Lawrence about a dozen yards away, sitting in a little hollow thickly shaded by trees.

We watched as Lawrence gave Davenport a healthy sucking. Then we watched Davenport return the suck, but we did not wait any longer, as we did not wish to disturb their privacy, not being desirous of the company of either of them.

There was a boy at the school, named Lacy, who was a favorite of the assistant master Ferguson. The latter, who was rather popular with us, for he was of a genial disposition and took a great deal of interest in our pastimes, was extremely fond of Lacy, and on whole or half holidays, frequently took him out, while he allowed the lad the free run of his study as well.

If Lacy was taking a bath, Ferguson would seize the opportunity to look in on him. When the boy was confined to his bed with a cold, Ferguson was continually visiting his room. And for a whole week they were away together, supposedly on a visit to Ferguson's father, who was a retired naval officer.

One evening Mr. Percival sent me with a message to Ferguson. I went to his study, knocking on the door and opening it directly. Lacy was seated in an armchair near the fireplace and Ferguson was in another chair near him. As I entered, the master rose to his feet hurriedly, turning towards me and picking up a book from the table as he did so.

I delivered my message and left, but while I was in the room, I was able to see that the fly of Lacy's pants was open. There was nothing else to be seen, but it looked strange for him to be unbuttoned, I thought. I told Rutherford and he agreed with me that Ferguson must have been doing something with Lacy, and had not time to fasten his pants when I entered their room.

A few days later I went into the library and picked out a volume from among the books and sat myself down to read. The thick curtains which hung before the far panes completely hid me from view, so that any one coming into the room might have thought it empty, unless they walked right up to the window.

I had not been there very long before someone did come in. I did not move, being interested in my book, while I was not expecting that any of the fellows would be looking for me.

The newcomers, for it sounded to me as if there were two, did not approach where I sat but took their places on a settee on the other side of the room. As soon as they began to talk, I knew it was Ferguson and Lacy, and on raising my eyes I could see them through a very narrow space between the curtains behind me and the wall.

They evidently thought themselves to be alone in the room, and not wishing to pose in the uncomfortable shape of an eavesdropper, I made up my mind to declare myself. But I could not resist the temptation to watch for a moment to see what they would do.

Ferguson was saying something of a jocular nature to Lacy, while he bent an affectionate smile upon him as he spoke. He held one of Lacy's hands in his and presently bent forward and touched the boy between the legs. Lacy pushed him away gently, saying, Not here, Don,” (his Christian name was Donald) “wait till we go to your room.”

But Ferguson laughed and said, “It's all right. No one will come in here,” and overcoming Lacy's very mild objections, he unfastened the lad's breeches and took out his cock. It was limp, as I could see, but Ferguson began to caress it, trying to make it stand up with more dignity.

I felt my position embarrassing now, for I had missed the right moment to make my presence known, and to do so after things had gone this length would be a very delicate matter.

I was in a quandary. The thought occurred to me to wait till they had gone, without betraying myself; but then I could not tell how long they would be there, and judging from appearances, they did not intend to hurry.

Then again, they might come over to the window when they had finished and this also would be very awkward for all of us. So I sat still, watching the pair. Something tickled my nostril so that I felt a sneezing fit coming on. I tried to stop the inclination but it was no use, and I had to give vent to a violent noise. I could hear the pair jump up with a start, and in another moment, Ferguson advanced to where I was.

“I didn't know you were here, Powerscourt; you kept very quiet.”

I assumed my most innocent expression and explained that I had been so deeply engrossed in my book that I had not noticed anyone entering the room.

“Oh, it's all right,” he said, and there was a tone of relief in his voice. “Only I made sure that the place was empty, and it gave me quite a startle when you sneezed.”

I was very glad the affair, which gave promise of some unpleasantness, had ended in this manner, but I had made a discovery and determined to put a leading question to Lacy when I had an opportunity.

The chance came one afternoon when I strolled into the bathing pavilion. There was no one there but Lacy, and after the interchange of a little conversation he asked if I would come onto the river with him for a little while.

The stream was broad enough to paddle about on and there were one or two small skiffs and punts kept there for us. We got into a punt and made our way slowly along with the current. It was a hot day and we did not go far before drawing up to the bank under the shade of a spreading tree.

The time and place suited for the occasion I had sought, so after some general talk I said, “How is Ferguson? You seem to be very friendly with him. I heard you call him Don when you were in the library the other day.”

He looked rather foolish for an instant and replied, “Ferguson went as white as a sheet when you sneezed. I was a bit flurried too; we both thought we were quite alone.”

“Yes, it must have made you feel funny,” I answered. “You wouldn't have been doing what you were, if you had thought anybody else was there.”

“What do you mean?” he said, turning his head.

“Oh well, I couldn't help seeing what you did,” I went on. “I wasn't spying on you, you know. I was there some time before you came in, so you can't blame me.”

“No, it was all Ferguson's fault; I told him what a fool he was. He ought to be more careful. It is a good thing that only you saw us. I shall see that we are not caught again.”

“Ferguson seemed to be amusing himself. It looked to me as if it wasn't the first time, by a long way. Come Lacy, you needn't be afraid of telling me. I shan't tell a word about it; it isn't likely that I should want to get you into a row – or Ferguson either. Do you often do anything like that with him?”

With only slight hesitation, Lacy told me his story.

“He took a fancy to me when I first came here, about eighteen months ago – and he has stuck to me ever since.

“At first he only used to give me stamps or coins for my collection and lend me books and so on; then he got more friendly and took me for walks with him. I didn't mind at all, as he was nice and things went on in this way for a good while.

“Sometimes he would take me to the beach for a swim; sometimes when I was having a bath, he would peep in while I was washing. I didn't care much at first for the way he would look me over when I was undressed, but I got used to that and actually began to like it. Then he gave me a standing invitation to come to his study whenever I liked, to do my 'prep' and I gradually got into the habit of going there regularly.

“He used to sit beside me to help me and was fond of fiddling about with my leg or arm, and that kind of thing. One day we were sitting together and I was doing a Greek exercise, and he was leaning on my shoulder, watching me. He had one hand on my leg and soon moved it close up against my thighs. I said to him, 'Don't, you're tickling me,' and laughed. He laughed too, and dug his fingers into my leg, making me jump.