Gynecocracy

Beatrice's oh's and ah's continued at each fresh jolt, and I could not avoid smiling and occasionally causing her a slight jerk by pressing the rocker down before the swing one way had been accomplished, upon which occasions I saw an angry red spot steal into her cheeks.

Indeed, before very long, I heard her suggesting:

"Gently, Julia! You may stop. No one will notice." And again: "Won't you catch it for-?"

With a smile I cut that short. It only required a little harder pressure of my foot than usual and the breath was jolted out of Beatrice's body and she found frantic efforts necessary to retain her equilibrium.

Alice then sat down and ordered Agnes to stand before her. She did so not very readily, obeying evidently only because she could not help herself.

"Do you know, Miss, the punishment a young lady deserves, who behaves herself during lesson time in so disorderly a fashion?"

"What is that to you?" said Agnes, pertly. "You are not my governess."

"Insubordination, in addition. Very well, Miss, you will have your bottom soundly birched."

Agnes flushed. "I won't!" she said.

"I think," said Maud, "it is a shame a man should use my sister so! I wonder, Mademoiselle-"

"Hold your tongue, codger."

I was afraid Beatrice would contribute her pipe next and so pressed my foot down strongly and suddenly. My pulses leapt and bounded; and, amid all my delight that these girls were going to catch it, I did not forget to rock Beatrice's horse with sufficient speed to keep her fully occupied with her own affairs.

How angrily Maud flushed at the word "codger"! That was what she had been named when made to work as a scullery maid. It shut her up effectually.

I was overjoyed at the thrilling prospect before me. These girls would catch it and the best of it was they would have to suffer the shamefulness of being punished by one whom they plainly considered a man while he was not really so. How deliciously they would be done!

They would have the salacious delight of displaying all their hidden charms to one they regarded as a man and then be bereft of their obscene enjoyment by being afterwards informed that the supposed man was, after all, but a woman like themselves.

What a disappointment it would be to them! For I know well that young ladies like being put to shame, having their nakedness exposed, and intensely enjoy anything that causes them an acute sense of immorality.

"What!" exclaimed Alice. "Here is flat mutiny. Maud, what business is it of yours to interfere with discipline? Get up, and stand beside your sister, Miss."

Maud looked very angry and threw down her pencil in a pet, but she went and stood by Agnes all the same.

"Now," remarked Lady Alfred, "I do not know which of you two young ladies is the worse, so I shall punish both your bottoms; and as the crime is really so serious, you must each have a dozen in front in addition. You must strip to your chemises. Maud, help Agnes, and you, Agnes, help Maud."

Long habits of obedience, the presence of Mademoiselle, the hopelessness of more resistance, I suppose, led them to acquiesce and obey. Rebellion would have been quelled at once by the assistance which Elise and the servants would have readily rendered, if summoned. And summoned we all knew they would be, upon the slightest provocation. They loved to see their young mistresses whipped and it would intensify their pleasure to see them flogged by a man.

Maud's and Agnes' frocks were soon off, their petticoats and corsets followed. They sat down and took off their stockings and shoes and drawers.

They were a beautiful pair of girls. Agnes' innocent blushes and cast-down looks were bewitching and almost compensated for the want of ripeness in her form as compared with Maud's.

"Before being punished you must lie on that couch and be examined."

"Oh, Mademoiselle!" exclaimed both the girls together, flushing scarlet, appealing to their governess against this fresh ignominy.

"You must obey, or you will find my whip about you, you refractory hussies!" was the only satisfaction they obtained from her.

"Oh!" they exclaimed. "By a man!"

Mademoiselle bit her lip.

"You will like it all the better for that."

Beatrice was going to say something, but an extra jerk shut her up. I could scarcely forbear from laughter at the control I possessed over her owing to my office of rocker. I knew I should have to pay for it hereafter.

"Agnes, come here! Lie down flat on your back, your head towards me," ordered her tutor.

Lady Alfred pulled her down and her chemise up, examined and passed her hand over her thighs, abdomen, and navel, and tickled, notwithstanding her choking exclamations, her clitoris. Then she rolled her over, and separated her legs as she looked at her pretty white bottom, and, placing her finger on the button between its cheeks, told Agnes she would insert it the next time she made punishment necessary.

"Monster!" said Maud. "Beast!"

Lady Alfred looked up, but said nothing.