Gynecocracy

"Very well," went on Mademoiselle, ignoring the interruption and not permitting her to say what she wanted, "you may thank your stars you have a governess who can manage you, and stamp out such improper ideas. You shall be deprived of your trousers-here-now-exposed before me and this young lady" (turning to me) "and have your own impudent bottom well and soundly birched, and I trust it will do you good."

Mademoiselle went to a chest of drawers, opened the second drawer, and took out a fresh green, well-budded birch, which she swished in the air under Lady Alfred's nose.

"You shall be birched astride of that bench," said she, pointing to it; "and if you have any hope of concealing anything, say good-bye to that hope at once."

"Oh, Mademoiselle, it is not fair! I won't be whipped, and before Julia-"

"Would you prefer it in the schoolroom, before them all?"

"Oh-I-no, certainly not! Oh, Mademoiselle, forgive me! It was a wicked idea-"

I could hardly believe my ears. Was this Lady Ridlington, after all? My perplexity almost demented me.

"Take down your trousers, Alfred, at once-take them off-strip to your shirt. Fair or unfair, you are to be birched."

She flew to Mademoiselle and kissed her hands. For a moment she permitted the kisses; and then, giving her a pat with the back of one of her hands upon her mouth, withdrew them both.

"Undress!" she ordered. "Julia, put the bench in the middle of the room and the bolster upon it."

I did what I was told to but trembled so much and gasped to such an extent that I had hardly strength to move it.

"Now, Julia!" as I fumbled.

Mademoiselle fixed her eyes on me and perceived my condition in consequence of which she gave me a stinging cut with the birch across my shoulders which bit fearfully, although over my dress. I gave a little shriek, but I had no longer any difficulty in executing her orders. I placed the bench in position, and the bolster upon it.

Lady Alfred was still fumbling with her buttons, furtively glancing at Mademoiselle every now and then, to see whether there was the slightest appearance or sign of a disposition to relent. I had been in the same predicament myself and was devoutly thankful I was not so now.

"Come, come!" cried Mademoiselle, tapping the ground impatiently with her foot. "I cannot stay here all day to punish your bottom, Alfred. Be quick, off with your coat and waistcoat! Now the trousers and drawers, too-yes, everything, to your shirt, you bold, good-for- nothing boy! You'd much sooner see a girl in your plight and have a prospect of examining her bottom, and of whipping it, than of having to expose your own and to be whipped. Be quick, or I shall make you kiss Julia's bottom!"

"Mademoiselle!" she exclaimed, standing erect and aghast.

"Yes, I will. Be quick!"

The trousers and drawers were soon pulled down.

I saw a pair of plump, round, white legs and pretty round ankles, and white exquisitely shaped feet.

"Now stand across the bench. Julia, strap his ankles together."

I obeyed.

"Julia, hand me some pins."

I did so.

Mademoiselle put down the birch. Taking the tail of the shirt, she pinned it up to Lady Alfred's shoulders, and then did the same in front.

I looked eagerly at the young, but fully developed, fresh girlish form before me with the soft silky down in front at the navel. I noticed and gloated over the large well-formed hips, and the soft, white, shrinking little bottom. How could Mademoiselle find it in her heart to punish such a tender beautiful little back?

There was no implement in front now. Lady Alfred was a girl, and a beautiful one. The reason she was so anxious I should be absent was because she knew I was a boy. This was all plain to me now. My contemplations and cogitations were brusquely cut short by Mademoiselle's ordering me to put a strap round her waist and the bench, and to fix her together underneath it.

Then she stroked her bottom and talked to her; passing her hand through between her legs, she tickled what she knew how to find, agitating Lady Alfred's frame convulsively.

How dare she pretend to be a boy? How dare she wear trousers? She (Mademoiselle) would whip her follies out of her, cure her of immodesty and indecency.

And Mademoiselle immediately suited the action to the word in her finished style: scientific, methodical, deliberate, and cruel.

She punished Lady Alfred's bottom most soundly until it bled. I was made to stand at the foot and could see all.

Lady Alfred took the castigation with surprising courage until Mademoiselle came to the last dozen, which as usual she inflicted lengthwise. The ends of the fresh birch curled about the insides of Lady Alfred's legs like vicious live things and all her fortitude vanished as if by magic.

She abandoned herself perforce to the agony; rolled and twisted, wrenched her wrists in the straps, and stiffened and relaxed her pretty, beautifully shaped legs.

Presently, unable to contain herself, she screamed again and again.