Gynecocracy

As the guard, with a serious face, came up to the window, followed by a girl, with very pale yellow hair, dressed in brown, Mademoiselle looked at Elise, and signalled to her with her hand. Whereupon Elise, to my inexpressible relief, dropped into the seat beside me. What a sigh of delight I gave as I sat up in the posture which enabled me to feel that implement inside me least! Mademoiselle noticed it with a frown, which made me regret my rashness.

CHAPTER 8

Gertrude Stormont

The next moment the guard unlocked and opened the door, and taking his cap off, requested Mademoiselle to permit a young lady who was going to London to have a seat in her carriage as the train was too crowded.

I felt certain she knew that something had been going on.

However, she got in as soon as Mademoiselle had politely assented, and sat down at my right hand, and in a few minutes we were off again without the prospect of a stoppage until Liverpool Street was reached at half-past three. So miles passed in silence. The newcomer had got out a novel which it was plain to me she but pretended to read.

Mademoiselle condescended to make the same pretence. Elise kept looking at me menacingly and then at Mademoiselle.

Now, I really could not sit still with that thing inside me and kept snuffing my feet.

"Sit still Julian," said Mademoiselle.

The yellow-haired damsel looked up interested.

She had a beautiful neck and pretty little ears; her features were not particularly striking, but the form of her body, her arms, bust, and lap, were good.

"Why don't you sit still, Julian?" said Mademoiselle, and then after a pause, speaking slowly and deliberately:

"If you make me speak again," looking full at me, "I shall thrash you soundly."

The stranger moved in her seat, a slight flush ran over her countenance, and she put her hand up to the knot of her hair at the back of her head, displaying her well-shaped arm.

"Is this young gentleman under petticoat-government?" she asked in rather severe tones. "Now-a-days, when boys are so unruly, it really does one good to find one who is made to mind."

"I am very pleased," answered Mademoiselle, with that courteous smile which I hated, "to hear you express such an opinion. Yes, he is certainly under petticoat-government-under petticoat-punishment, in fact. My maid was punishing him just before you entered the carriage."

"He seems a big boy for it," said the new arrival, scanning me curiously. "He must be eighteen, I should think. And pray how was she punishing him? I wish I had been here to see. I thought he looked very conscious and shamefaced, when I came to the door; and then when I heard you speak sharply to him, I at once guessed that, notwithstanding his great size, he was kept in strict subjection."

"Yes, he is," responded Mademoiselle, "and he requires it. And as for his size and age, petticoat-discipline is more salutary at his time of life, than if he were still a hobbledehoy. A youth of just eighteen, which, as you observed, he really quite looks, is particularly susceptible to women's influence; in fact, I think it would be a capital thing for all youths, when they leave school, to be in a young lady's hands, as he has been, to be kept in subjection until at marriage the yoke is forced upon them once for all. There would be fewer young fools silly with conceit in the world if this plan were followed. There is nothing like subjugation to a girl for taking the conceit and nonsense out of a young man."

"I quite agree with you; but is he not going to college?"

"No; he has been entrusted to me instead; he so misbehaved himself at home that he is to be deprived of that privilege."

Now this was the first intimation I had received of this decision, and it came as a revelation and disappointment; for at times when my thraldom felt most bitter, I had found some consolation in the reflection that before long I must go to the university. Besides, it was my right-it would affect my whole position in life.

"Oh, Mademoiselle," I burst out, "of course I shall go to college, of course I shall go and take a degree. I must have one."

"I shall not permit you to go-my petticoats are your university; how dare you interrupt and speak to me in that tone?"

"Indeed, I should not allow it. I am quite shocked. He evidently needs a most severe regime," said, with pious horror, the pretty light-golden-haired damsel in closely fitting brown frock which set off her plump figure to perfection.

"And has he not been to school?"

"Oh, yes, but they could not keep him there."

"Oh, Mademoiselle, indeed this is not fair. It's not true," said I in desperation, "I was not strong enough for school. That was the reason I was sent home and you know it."

An exclamation of fresh horror on the part of the young lady, in which Elise seemed to join, greeted this audacious outburst of mine. A very angry look appeared on Mademoiselle's face.