even shed some tears, and finally struck forcibly on the ground with her heel, like an impatient mare pawing the soil, and finally succeeded in finding one foot within a boot. She paused a moment for breath. Then she resolutely set about getting the other boot on, while also declaring that she was horribly pinched and that never would she be able to walk in boots so narrow and uncomfortable.
Lady Flayskin corrected her in tones of severity.
'You must learn that it is necessary to be able to suffer in order to be beautiful. These boots f t you perfectly. See how wonderfully well your foot is now set off and how the calf now shows to advantage. Presently, when you have buttoned both boots up, you will speak.
differently, You wiII thank me. The slight feeling of pain will, it is true, moderate your gratitude, but that feeling will pass as the leather yields and your feet grow used to their new covering. You will then be proud to be so well shod, for, I repeat, we are now dealing with a point of prime importance in your apparel,'
The pretty pupil had succeeded in getting both boots on, and standing by the sofa, she placed alternatively one foot and then the other thereon in order to fasten the buttons. Such irreverent treatment of her sofa, Lady Flayskin would not have tolerated in the case of any other pupil.
Virginia was clothed only in her creaseless black silk stockings and her high boots, the latter reflecting the light from their polished tips. Her large posterior was thrust far out, as she bent to her task, showing her back, narrow at the waist and broadening at the shoulders. The girl appeared superb in this attitude.
It was consequently not without a little sigh of regret that Lady Flayskin painted out to her 180
the chemise of fine lawn together with the other garments intended for her use, all of which were laid out on a chair near her.
As the dressing began, the mistress sighed anew as she watched the partial eclipse of the perfect breasts, the snowy thighs and the peerless hinder globes.
Nevertheless, Miss Virginia's chemise did not by any means annihilate her seductiveness. Her aristocratic pride was now tempered by the modesty she had had instilled into her by the whip. She was moreover a spotless virgin. The net result was an inexpressible charm, greatly to the taste of the perverse-minded directress of the establishment who was a veritable connaisseuse in sensual impressions, from long experience.
After another interval of silent admiration, Lady Flayskin said:
'Now see how well your clothes become you! Admire once more the boots which fit you to perfection. It is difficult for you to believe how they will enhance your attractiveness. Drawers and chemise are necessary parts of a lady's costume, but there is a garment of 181
more importance. I place the boots, important though they are, below the stays, and please do not interpret this words in any ridiculous fashion. As regards any such interpretation, I have something to say to you. You have just smiled during my address to you. Accustom yourself to listen to everything I say to you, not only without interrupting, but without giving any sign either of approval or of disapproval. In a word, do not show any feeling whatever. The only requisite, which politeness renders obligatory, is profound attention. Do not forget.
'No, my lady.'
'Do you understand the importance of my words?
'Perfectly, my lady.'
'I congratulate you. I am decidedly of opinion that the whip has been most profitable to you. Are you not of the same opinion?'
'Certainly, my lady.'
'Nevertheless, I shall not be so exacting as to expect you to thank me for your whipping. That, probably, you would find it difficult 182
to do with any heartiness. Am I not correct in my surmise? '
Both laughed, Lady Flayskin with open amusement, Miss Malville in a constrained and rather frightened way. It was a desire to please which had made her laugh, for she was afraid.
Poor girl, she had been right in her fears! Her astute mistress had had her own reasons for recalling to the mind of the pupil the cruel flogging with the thong of hide.
Her object was simply to make the girl comprehend perfectly, in the case of the smallest notion of rebellion remaining in the latter's mind, that it was indispensable for her to submit to the disciplining power of the corset unless she desired a second application of the treatment which had reduced her posteriors to such a sorry state.
Miss Malville quite un derstood the mistress's meaning and her terror of the corset was not diminished on that account.
The reality far surpassed her expectations. The pair of stays had evidently been made by a corset-maker of the highest class. Both shape and material showed it to be the work of an 183
artist. That was indisputable. The other pupils had to be content with corsets of strong linen, but this was of brocaded silk and the workmanship had been carefully and beautifully finished off. The whalebone and steel stiffeners were numerous and seemed at first to be of an extreme rigidity. Such, however, was not the case. This corset, in its pronounced an fashionable model, was as supple as it was elegant.
Miss Malville, on holding it in her hands, was not at first disposed to greatly fear it. But so soon as she had it on her body and endeavoured to hook it, her difficultie began. The more the girl tried to perform her task, the more hopelessly impossible that feat appeared.
Her ladyship watched these unsuccessful efforts with an interested and illboding eye.
She did not yet, however, intervene.
Miss Malville drew her stomach in, raised her arms high, exhausted herself, stopped, recommenced her impossible task, but all to no purpose. She was then about to loosen the side-lacing and thus make the stays larger.
'Ah! I emphatically forbid you to do that!' exclaimed Lady Flayskin.
'Then how shall I manage?'
'Set to work honestly, with courage, and without being afraid of pinching your skin. What? You do not know how to put on a corset?'
'But this corset is not like others!'
'It is you who are not like others!'
Virginia lowered her head, raised it anew, and struggled with might and main, but all to no purpose.
Her ladyship's tone became menacing.
'I am afraid there is trouble in store!'
But Virginia replied, in a somewhat sulky tone:
'It is impossible!'
She held the corset in her hands, uncertain as to what she was to do with it.
Lady Flayskin took a chair in front of her and looking at her fixedly, said, with lips trembling with anger:
'You are going to put it on immediately.'
The young girl, overcome by her hard and useless struggle, burst into tears and sobs.
'I cannot! I cannot!'
'Yes, you can!'
'I tell you that I cannot!'
'Say that you will not!'
'Oh!'
'Oh's' and 'ah's' are useless. I give you two minutes in which to put it on and fasten it.'
With a significant air, the mistress went to the drawer of the large cupboard where the birches were ranged in order. She searched among them, making a whistling sound with the twigs similar to that made by the autumnal leaves which whirl together as they fall. Poor Virginia could not help being moved by this sinister noise. Her teeth chattered and, in consequence she bit her tongue. This little accident is often very painful and, in this case, Virginia in her momentary suffering, opened her hands and dropped the corset to the ground.
Terrified by the probable consequences of this fresh misfortune, the poor girl now sank upon a chair, covered her face with her hands and wept bitterly.
To add to her affliction, the wrathful mistress had at length fixed upon her selection of a rod. The chosen instrument was long and thin, and its tapering proportions were such as to inspire the greatest terror as it cut through the air – the directress was already swishing it hither and thither in a horrible manner.
