Gynecocracy

Then she said, "Harder," and, needless to narrate, Sophie gladly obeyed.

"Whip well in," directed my wife.

Sophie, changing her position, delivered the strokes more between my legs.

I began to feel an unusual glow of warmth about my buttocks and thighs. In front, too, there was a sensation of strength caused by the increased flow of blood, attracted by the operation of the birch, more than by erotic images which should have caused the blood to flow in those regions in fuller streams.

Women are, indeed, very scientific in the matter. The birch is an admirable substitute for passion; and I suppose it is this connection with love functions that prevents a woman from ever referring to or hearing a reference to the birch without blushing.

"Beatrice!" I murmured.

"You good-for-nothing block! What is the matter with you?"

I clasped her soft, fleshy form-warm and flowing with life-more closely to me. I fell upon it in the enervation of love.

Beatrice made a signal to Sophie and the rod was suspended in the air. I wished more ardently than I can express that I had been covered and had not had to discharge this office naked under Sophie's keen and curious eyes; but I was not covered, I was fully displayed before her, and I knew she watched with eager attention my quickly accumulating passion.

Beatrice gave little calls and cries of love.

"You good boy, Julian, after all! I can feel you increasing, swelling inside me, filling me, gratifying all my longings. You good boy! Oh, oh, oh!"

Then the sense of being possessed by a female came to me. It struck me where I was, and, convulsed with passion, I injected into Beatrice, under all the auspices of marriage, that warm infusion, that germinating fluid, that essence of myself, which she claimed and demanded as my wife.

Before the spasm had completed itself, Sophie put her cool little hand on the cord of the instrument between my legs. The shock of the touch fanned the dying embers again into a flame.

Beatrice was thoroughly satisfied.

"I felt you regularly inside me-in my womb, Julian. Nothing can please a woman more."

Then she kissed me and permitted me to lie beside her. Sophie put out the lights and jumped into bed; and indeed I was asleep almost as soon as I was conscious that she had done so, for I was quite exhausted.

We spent that day at Dover and the night at the same hotel, Beatrice enjoying the freedom with me alone so much that she was quite content that we should stay where we were; but on the following day we went on to Paris on our way to Switzerland.

Beatrice appeared to be absolutely insatiable. Her passions, her love, her lust, her appetites-what shall I name the fury that possessed her? — distanced even Lady Alfred Ridlington's.

I had wondered, too, in the old days, whether, when we were married, she would birch me as she did in them.

My speculations were very soon set at rest. Wherever we might happen to be, in public or in private, if I transgressed, Beatrice would inform me: "I shall birch you tonight, when we get in, Julian!"

How foolish it made me feel and look! I am sure the threat was understood more than once. I saw women glancing intelligently and sympathetically at the magnificent girl-woman, who was at once my wife and my governess.

CHAPTER 11

Swiss Honey

We had been a week or ten days in Paris when Maud arrived.

The sisters met with great glee and affection. Marriage evidently appeared to them to be emancipation, to open the door to fun and frolics without end, to justify all manner of escapades.

"How well, how beautiful you look, Beatrice!" exclaimed Maud, with genuine admiration. "What health you are in! Married life evidently agrees with you. And Julian," her eyes fell softly upon me, "he, too, is well; but I can see he is in pretty strict subjection."

"Yes," rejoined Beatrice, "I keep him well under, and it does him good. He knows what it is to have a wife who can use the birch. I keep him in much better order than Mademoiselle did."

"Is he very often punished?" asked Maud changing colour.

"Oh, yes! Are you not, Julian? I keep you in a very tender state. He particularly dislikes long drives because he has to sit so much."

"Is he so naughty?" asked Maud, seriously.

"A little difficult to manage, sometimes; and, by-the-bye, Maud, you and I have a score to settle."

"Oh, not now, Bee!"

"Oh, yes! I have not forgotten the Apollo and his disobedience. Go to my bedroom, Julian, and stay there until I come. We have nothing to do this afternoon, and we shall have time, before the table-d'hote, to amuse ourselves, and to take a walk too. You, Maud, will want to change your dress and it will be a capital opportunity for punishing you both, especially while the novelty of your arrival is upon you both." 401

I knew very well by this time what being sent to Beatrice's bedroom meant.

In these matters she always took the initiative.