me to make a shrewd guess at her age. An old woman who looks young when her face is in repose, will, when she laughs, immediately disclose lines, whilst her skin will have a more or less parchmenty appearance, however scientifically she has used her cosmetics.
Now Lady Alfred Ridlington was perpetually laughing, and her skin was as fresh as a child's-yet about the eyes there was a look of old worldliness which betokened a knowledge of life; and noticing closely Mademoiselle's demeanour towards her I came to the conclusion that she had lived a fast life but was some eight or nine months younger than my governess.
At times her eyes shone with a fierce white flame such as I had noticed in Mademoiselle's eyes when her erotism was violently excited, such as all women possess in some degree under like circumstances-Mademoiselle in a greater degree than most, and Lady Alfred in excess even of her.
At such times all laughter and smiles would leave her countenance, her face would lose its roundness, the cheeks become drawn, the mouth firmly shut, the whole soul concentrated in the baleful fires of her eyes.
Mademoiselle moved her legs under the table, and I knew, at once, she had excited other emotions in her.
'Sometimes, I confess, I should like to have the assistance of a master, but he would need years to give weight to his authority,' she presently said-
'And I,' rejoined Lady Alfred with mock disappointment, 'cannot pretend to them.'
Now was my opportunity. I felt the danger of my folly but impelled by a boldness I cannot account for. I slowly lifted my eyes to Lady Alfred, and said very quietly: 'Nor to the sex either, Lady Alfred.'
Maud jumped almost off her chair. Agnes changed colour, and awaited events with quiet astonishment, incredulous at what I think she dreamt was a new form of joke.
Beatrice gave me an applauding look for my courage. And Mademoiselle plainly did not know whether to be vexed or amused.
Lady Alfred was furious. She jumped up. 'How dare you, Sir! Miss, I mean!' she shouted in a transport.
'At any rate, you will feel my sex. Mademoiselle,' she added, 'you must let me break him in.'
'You shall hear them their lessons, and whip them all round if you like, Alfred. But you, Julia, go to your room-or stay, go to mine at once.'
'I think it disgraceful,' remarked Beatrice, with real anger. 'Suppose Uncle-'
At this Mademoiselle lost her temper-she glared at Beatrice and rang the bell. 'Send Elise!' she ordered.
'Elise, take Miss Beatrice, strip her, and dress her in a shirt, boys' drawers, and trousers, and bring her to the schoolroom at half past ten. In the meantime, Alfred, you come with me. You other two,' she added, looking at Maud and Agnes, 'go to the schoolroom and set yourselves to work.'
As I walked up in high dudgeon, I noticed the questioning and rather frightened look Lady Alfred gave Mademoiselle and her own quiet complacent air which indicated nothing to the unskilled, but which, I very well knew, meant danger all round.
I left Beatrice and Elise struggling and protesting together and before I had gained the door heard a succession of sharp sounds, followed by a sob or two, which told me Beatrice was having her face smacked, probably by Mademoiselle, while Elise held her hands. Foolish girl to resist.
My breath came and went more quickly than I cared to acknowledge to myself, but I was wise in my generation, and bent before the storm I had raised, and went at once to Mademoiselle's room.
The rustle of her garments was audible in the corridor before I expected it, and I shuddered at the sound. There was that horrid black oak bench before my eyes. How I hated it!
Mademoiselle came into the room with Lady Alfred Ridlington and took no notice of me, so fully occupied was she. She led her in reluctantly, white and flushed by turns, and protesting energetically, 'No, no!' to something Mademoiselle was plainly bent upon.
I was very glad, as may be supposed, to take a back seat, and to fall into the background; and such was Mademoiselle's preoccupation that I doubted whether she was aware of my presence.
'You are a very naughty little boy, Alfred!' she was saying.
I opened my eyes at her tones of uncompromising severity and determination. I could scarcely contain myself. My head whirled. I thought I should burst my corset. I held my breath, transfixed with a strange ecstasy at Mademoiselle's fury.
'You are a very naughty little boy!' she reiterated, in tones which defied all contradiction of anything they might articulate. 'A very naughty boy, Alfred! Tutor indeed! No doubt you would like to hear my pupils' lessons; no doubt you would like to have the punishing of young ladies; to turn them down on their faces, you young scoundrel, turn up their petticoats, see their pretty legs and drawers, uncover their soft warm bottoms, and flog them till they screamed and yelled for mercy. You would examine them; you would make them display their hidden charms, you indecent young rascal' (she jerked and shook her); 'you would gloat over what you saw. Very well-'
'Oh, Mademoiselle! Indeed-indeed I-' And she seemed terrified.
Mademoiselle appeared, to my astonishment, thoroughly in earnest, and Lady Alfred thoroughly and really afraid.
'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.'
