Gynecocracy

"I certainly should not permit such-such impudence to pass," said the stranger, drawing herself up, and sitting back on the seat. "I understand he was being punished when I got in. I see he richly deserved it. Pray, do not let my being here prevent his receiving the treatment he merits," and she covered me with a look of serious and solemn displeasure.

"Thank you," calmly said Mademoiselle. And then to me: "How dare you, Julian, contradict me? How dare you insinuate that my statement was untrue? Kneel down there this instant!"

The train was rushing on and the carriage oscillating very much; but, astounded at my own boldness, it never occurred to me to refuse. I sighed deeply because I knew what was coming, and knelt down. My hands remained all the time fixed together at my back.

As soon as I was in position, Mademoiselle gave me several stinging slaps on the cheeks with her gloved hands. At the pain and the humiliation I nearly burst into tears. "Beg my pardon," she ordered. I did so.

"If he were my pupil, I should weal his bottom for him with my lady's riding whip until it looked like a latticed window with the setting sun shining through."

"You hear, Julian," said Mademoiselle. "That shall be the penalty of your naughtiness. And now apologize to that young lady for behaving so before her."

Her little mouth looked very stern and there was a curious light in her eyes, as I addressed myself as gracefully as I could to this task. There was a delicious perfume and atmosphere about her and she told me she thought she too should inflict some chastisement on me.

"Pray, do," cried Mademoiselle, only too pleased. "I will do something to him," she said flushing a lovely colour, the more remarkable because of her clear fair complexion, "that my young brother, who has to wait and attend upon me, particularly hates. It has the advantage that it can be done anywhere, and it punishes severely." Proceeding to unglove her dainty hand: "Sit down!" I sat down.

"Why does he wriggle about on his seat like that? Is there anything wrong with him?"

"The fact is," answered Mademoiselle, "the young rascal has been making too free with a cousin and is being taken to town for the express purpose of being unsexed.

I thought, when he tried to make light of the matter, it would be well to remind him he was no longer to be a boy, by directing my maid to insert an ivory instrument-"

"Into him? Capital!" cried the girl, clapping her hands. "Into him? Behind, you mean. Oh, do take down his trousers and show me. There is plenty of time; we are not near town yet."

"No, no, no," I cried, I prayed. What an exhibition they proposed making of me to that strange girl! It was bad enough with them alone.

But Elise, with a smile, had already placed her arm about me, again unfastened my trousers, and had thrown me over her lap and uncovered my bottom.

"What a nice one," said the girl, for whose benefit this had been done, giving it a few slaps with her hand, off which she had taken the glove, and stroking it as well.

"Put your legs apart. There, you can see the silver plate."

"Take it out and show it to her, Elise. He may as well have the employment of having it taken out and replaced."

"Oh, please, Mademoiselle! Oh, please, Elise! Oh, oh, don't! Oh, no, Miss-Miss-"

"Gertrude Stormont, if you mean me, you bad boy."

The thought flashed through my mind. I recollected that women named Gertrude, Aline, Laura, are always inexorable and fond of using the birch without that voluptuous mercifulness which characterizes the discipline of an Ellen, a Julia, or a Mary. Names are a certain index to disposition amongst ladies in society anyhow. A Violet is strict, but always by coldness, never by active infliction. It is true my governess was Hortense and her maid, Elise. Anyhow, the moment I heard the name Gertrude, I felt my fate was sealed.

"If you were in my hands," she went on, "I would take it in and out with you over my lap for perhaps an hour for my own private amusement."

Elise slipped her thumb and finger underneath the plate, and regardless of my exclamations and cries, pulled the thing out, holding me down as she handed it to Miss Stormont for her to examine.

"Capital," she said. "And I see there is a hole through it into which a tube can be screwed. I hope he will find you make use of it."

"Undoubtedly," observed Mademoiselle.

The implement was then handed to Elise who set about replacing it.

"Keep still-don't wriggle so, lie still, will you?" and she pushed, and puffed and poked me. Her efforts were useless until she slipped her left hand down my front. The counter irritation deprived my resistance of all force. The thing was reinstated.

"Now," said Miss Gertrude, "before his trousers are buttoned up again, please, let him come to me. I was about to punish him, you will remember, when I asked to be shown that thing; and I should still like to be allowed to do so, if I may. I will give him a peculiarly feminine infliction," she added, with a pretty menacing gesture.