feeble and disarmed, unfit to struggle or even compete with strong and resolute men, nerveless, bloodless warriors in the merciless clash and clang of existence where the strong man wins and the weat man goes to the wall.
A deep-noted gong signalled to us to make our way to the drawing-room. We were soon joined there by the other guests.
We found ourselves, as our head-mistress had told us would be the case, in the society of eminently chic persons. There were old gentlemen of Mr. Gostock's respectable antiquity, but, curious to relate, not a single middle-aged man. There were young girls whose corsets and gloves resembled our own in tightness, and beautifully-dressed ladies. When however, I drew nearer to one of the girls I found that she belonged to my own sex.
A boy?
What could that mean?
I felt extremely curious and was on the point of making a commonplace remark to the young person with the object of beginning an interesting dialogue when I jumped nearly out of my skin. The voice of the head-mistress sounded in my ears:
'Alice! Come here!'
I had been watched! Trembling, I obeyed.
'Sit down there, and do not move a muscle. It is not your place to begin a conversation.'
But I was used to Lady Flayskin's ingenious discoveries of punishable offences and used also to failing to understand the justice of the penance prescribed.
I was therefore resigned to the necessity of seating myself with a good grace on the edge of the chair indicated, for with our abominable stays it was impossible to think of leaning back, and had we attempted such a feat we should never have been able to raise ourselves again. I assumed as modest and penitent a mien as I was able and consoled myself with the thought that after all we were guests and no doubt I had inadvertently transgressed some mysterious rule of etiquette. My only fear was lest the head-mistress should revert to the matter on our return to school and make a mountain out of it. She was not the person to forget any matter wether little or big.
Any illusions I might have cherished in this connection were doomed to be swiftly dissipated.
Refreshments were brought in. Champagne frothed and was poured into glasses and then down throats, after the manner of champagne. The animation was at its highest, when Lady Flayskin, always, to employ a vulgarism, on the spot at important moments, proposed the first toast. She made a long, flowery speech regarding conjugal felicity, the excellent choice the universally esteemed Mr. Gostock had made, and the no less enduring than brilliant qualities of his bride. Then she annuonced:
'For you, dear child, I have reserved a pleasant surprise. I have had to reprimand some of my pupils, but their punishment has not yet taken place and I have counted upon you to apply it. Do not refuse me this kindness before we separate. I earnestly desire to see some impertinent hinder hemispheres whipped by you who know so well the science of the rod.'
Pretty Stella's eyes were illumined by pleasurable anticipation and also, no doubt, by the effets of the champagne and other exciting delights of the day. Rising from her chair, she replied:
'Why, certainly! will do what you request with real delight: It is actually some days since I have whipped a boy or girl on – ahem!-the partdestined by nature to receive chastisement. My arm is well rested and woe betide the posteriors destined to taste its vigour. I can promise them full measure. They will afterwards be able to boast of the excellent good-bye spanking they received on this memorable occasion. Please tell me who is to be the first and I will begin at once.'
It was with stupefaction, as the reader may imagine, that I heard this speech and what with my fear and my stays, I could scarcely draw my breath. I was somewhat relieved, however, by the head mistress's rejoinder.
'Begin with Dora. I reprimanded her yesterday and have specially reserved the chastisement of her behind for you to-day.'
Dora with a piercing shriek attempted to escape to the garden. Servants, however, had been posted at the door. They caught the child and brought her back.
Dora was a sweet, fair-haired, pink-cheeked girl, as appetising as cream, (alas, she was about to be converted into whipped cream!) with dimples everywhere. Her stays literally cut her in two. Her waist was of extraoadinary slenderness, which made the well-developed bust and large hips appear the more pro nounced.
Nimble-fingered Stella 'trussed' her in the twinkling of an eye in spite of her tears, cries and efforts to resist. Her petticoats were pinned to her shoulders, revealing large hinder spheres black and shining, for naturally, Dora like the rest of us, wore the horrible, closefitting drawers of black kid.
The beating of the rod upon this vast rump was like the rolling of drums. As I,listened to her agonised shrieks and prayers for pity, I knew but too well what was in store for my own latter end.
'And the next?' inquired bateful Stella, as she let Dora go. The victim had certainly received an over-dose.
'It is Alice's turn, if you will be so obliging,' replied the head-mistress.
'If I will be so obliging? Why I shall be charmed! I have always found special delight in whipping the impertinent seat of that vicious little boy. His back parts tremble in such a curious, interesting manner.'
Seeing 'Alice,' that is to say myself, dressed, of course, like a girl and pushed towards Stella by the servants, some of the old gentlemen were moved by the strongest curiosity. I heard them murmur:
'Look! Look!'
It was certainly an unusual spectacle, this big boy of ten years old walking awkwardly forward, equally troubled by the curious looks, his stays, his high heels and the other feminine paraphernalia, as by his fear of the scene which was, he knew, to follow. They saw me throw myself upon my kness and with 245
clasped hands implore Stella to intercede for me, and afterwards, since the entreaty fell upon deaf ears, implore her not to strike me too hard. They saw Stella laugh until tears run down her cheeks, then truss me. They saw the exact form and configuration of my hindquarters for, boy though I was, I wore the black kid drawers, tight and shining, which have been so frequently described.
They saw, too, the ridiculous trembling movements adored by Stella, for I had my reasons for shaking my poor curves beneath the torment. Ah, the wretch! Never did she whip with a more perfect mastery of her art. To say good-bye, she wrote an unforgettable 'P. P. C.' upon my martyred beam-end.
The old gentlemen saw that for me all feelings of shame were of no account, so great was my pain and terror.
All these things they could see. and hear and it appears that they both looked and listened with prodigious amusement and satisfaction. Possibly their senile lusts were stimulated by the scene? Ah, the monsters!
On being permitted to regain my chair, I 246
seated myself astride across the seat, forgetful of my skirts and, resting my arms upon the chair's back, buried my face in my shame and misery, crying as though my heart would break.
This was a fresh opportunity for the mirth of the company who did not fail to take advantage of it.
I suddenly heard the voice of Lady Flayskin pronounce my name in tones sharper and more bitter than verjuice.
'Alice!'
I quickly assumed a more feminine attitude, especially as I had had another reminder of my momentary forgetfulness, even more disagreeable than the voice of her ladyship. In leaning forward over the chair's back, I had broken one of my staybusk. A sharp end consequently stuck into my stomach, causing me horrible agony. I dared not make a movement now.
Conversation was resumed. The company appeared to be in excellent, even tumultuous spirits. The ingredients for making punch were brought in.
Mr. Gostock stepped forward in his usual solemn manner and undertook to superintend themixing. Night had fallen, but Stella declared that obscurity in the room would be vastly more amusing than artificial light. Naturally the wishes of the little chit were laws for her husband, and darkness accordingly reigned, broken by the flickering green and blue flames from the ignited rum, uncertain ghoulish dimness.
In this half-light, transpired scenes of an extraordinary nature. Mistresses and servants circulated swiftly among us pupils and in less time almost than it takes to relate, had stripped us naked, boys and girls alike, in spite of our resistance and cries. I said 'naked,' but I should explain that for the moment they did not remove that black, glazed kid combination; the skin-tight garment which revealed, rather than concealed our youthful forms; nor our
