Gynecocracy

CHAPTER 8

The next moment the guard unlocked and opened the door, and taking his cap off, requested Mademoiselle to permit a young lady who was going to London to have a seat in her carriage as the train was too crowded.

I felt certain she knew that something had been going on.

However, she got in as soon as Mademoiselle had politely assented, and sat down at my right hand, and in a few minutes we were off again without the prospect of a stoppage until Liverpool Street was reached at half-past three. So miles passed in silence. The newcomer had got out a novel which it was plain to me she but pretended to read.

Mademoiselle condescended to make the same pretence. Elise kept looking at me menacingly and then at Mademoiselle.

Now, I really could not sit still with that thing inside me and kept snuffing my feet.

"Sit still Julian," said Mademoiselle.

The yellow-haired damsel looked up interested.

She had a beautiful neck and pretty little ears; her features were not particularly striking, but the form of her body, her arms, bust, and lap, were good.

"Why don't you sit still, Julian?" said Mademoiselle, and then after a pause, speaking slowly and deliberately:

"If you make me speak again," looking full at me, "I shall thrash you soundly."

The stranger moved in her seat, a slight flush ran over her countenance, and she put her hand up to the knot of her hair at the back of her head, displaying her well-shaped arm.

"Is this young gentleman under petticoat-government?" she asked in rather severe tones. "Now-a-days, when boys are so unruly, it really does one good to find one who is made to mind."

"I am very pleased," answered Mademoiselle, with that courteous smile which I hated, "to hear you express such an opinion. Yes, he is certainly under petticoat-government-under petticoat-punishment, in fact. My maid was punishing him just before you entered the carriage."

"He seems a big boy for it," said the new arrival, scanning me curiously. "He must be eighteen, I should think. And pray how was she punishing him? I wish I had been here to see. I thought he looked very conscious and shamefaced, when I came to the door; and then when I heard you speak sharply to him, I at once guessed that, notwithstanding his great size, he was kept in strict subjection."

"Yes, he is," responded Mademoiselle, "and he requires it. And as for his size and age, petticoat-discipline is more salutary at his time of life, than if he were still a hobbledehoy. A youth of just eighteen, which, as you observed, he really quite looks, is particularly susceptible to women's influence; in fact, I think it would be a capital thing for all youths, when they leave school, to be in a young lady's hands, as he has been, to be kept in subjection until at marriage the yoke is forced upon them once for all. There would be fewer young fools silly with conceit in the world if this plan were followed. There is nothing like subjugation to a girl for taking the conceit and nonsense out of a young man."

"I quite agree with you; but is he not going to college?"

"No; he has been entrusted to me instead; he so misbehaved himself at home that he is to be deprived of that privilege."

Now this was the first intimation I had received of this decision, and it came as a revelation and disappointment; for at times when my thraldom felt most bitter, I had found some consolation in the reflection that before long I must go to the university. Besides, it was my right-it would affect my whole position in life.

"Oh, Mademoiselle," I burst out, "of course I shall go to college, of course I shall go and take a degree. I must have one."

"I shall not permit you to go-my petticoats are your university; how dare you interrupt and speak to me in that tone?"

"Indeed, I should not allow it. I am quite shocked. He evidently needs a most severe regime," said, with pious horror, the pretty light-golden-haired damsel in closely fitting brown frock which set off her plump figure to perfection.

"And has he not been to school?"

"Oh, yes, but they could not keep him there."

"Oh, Mademoiselle, indeed this is not fair. It's not true," said I in desperation, "I was not strong enough for school. That was the reason I was sent home and you know it."

An exclamation of fresh horror on the part of the young lady, in which Elise seemed to join, greeted this audacious outburst of mine. A very angry look appeared on Mademoiselle's face.

"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.

"By all means," said Mademoiselle.

"I should have done it without taking his trousers down," she coolly continued as she drew me towards her with a firmness I could not withstand, especially on the part of a girl: "but, as they are down, so much the better. Come here, close to me. So. Now lie backwards. Yes, backwards, across my knee. Sit on my knee and lie back across the arm of the seat. Now, no nonsense," she went on, with charming peremptoriness putting her left arm across the front of my chest and firmly pushing me backwards into the position she had described. It gave me the oddest and most disagreeable sensations to find myself thus face upwards in the arms of a strange girl, my middle, with its disarranged clothing, all exposed to her, her plump round arm pressing me down. Bending across me, with a flushed face and flaming eyes, she made me stretch my legs well apart, pressing the knees alternately to separate them.

"It increases their punishment," she explained, glancing first at Mademoiselle and then, for a moment, looking into my own eyes (I noticed hers were swimming), "to let them see who is doing it."

Assuredly, if queer sensations can be considered punishment, I received it in full measure. The embarrassment of the position to a bashful and susceptible young man was extreme.

"Why, good gracious," she exclaimed after a slight further examination, "I declare he has got a corset, chemise, lady's drawers, and stockings on. His attire puzzled me a moment ago. What a splendid idea! Now, young gentleman!"

Tightening the pressure of her left arm, she slipped her ungloved hand down between my legs and slowly moved it upwards from my knees. Coming into contact with the sensitive nerves at the insides of my thighs gave me many a pungent twinge. It was the last place in which I should have desired a strange young lady's hand to be. I could not avoid moving about.

The little hand soon reached the angle and to my intense bewilderment was not withdrawn, as I should have expected, when it came into contact with what was there. On the contrary I was soon made very sensible of its cool, soft, deliberate pressure upon a very sensitive organ which it grasped, accompanied by a fresh liquid look into my eyes, without the slightest hesitation. I uttered an inarticulate murmur of pleasure. I could not resist or protect myself now that she had touched me-indeed, I did not desire too.

But the next instant when with her left hand she commenced to gather up the chemise and my legs being wide apart, to completely expose me, my feelings again altered, and I would have protested if I could. I wriggled about, notwithstanding that the plug from behind hurt me when I did so, but I could not help it, it was so embarrassing, so confusing to find a girl's hand, without leave asked, quietly playing one's secret anatomy.

In a moment I was quite exposed. She scanned me carefully and leisurely. The look was even worse than the touch. I asked her to cover me up and received a little mocking laugh in reply as she continued playing with me. I drew several deep breaths, sighs, almost groans, and as I gazed at her, at her pretty face, her bewildering hair, her bewitching little head and ears, the graceful form of her back and sides, and felt upon me the atmosphere and perfume of her beautiful body, and remembered she was a stranger, and realized what she was doing, what she could see, I became much excited, and Mons. Priapus grew and grew regardless of the presence he was in.

"I can plainly see the mischief my eyes are doing," she observed to Mademoiselle. "I must confess" (with a winning smile) "I have often wished when a gentleman gazed into them, I could just slip my hand in and gauge their effect exactly. Some naughty boys have a slit in their trouser's pocket for the purpose."

"Have they, indeed?" said Mademoiselle, moving.

"Yes," answered Miss Stormont, calmly fingering me all the time. "I found it out from one of my brothers, who is at Eton-not the one I have already mentioned to you. I discovered that all his trouser's pockets had each one side of the top unfastened, and I caught him one day with one of the housemaid's hands in his pocket. He tried to pretend she was merely seeing for herself whether the pocket was empty as he had declared to her it was. She was a very pretty girl. Then I called him to me, and slipping my hand through, shew him I knew the truth."

"How dreadful! Whatever did you do?"

"I sent him up to my bedroom, and the girl too. I deprived him of his trousers, made her hold him down, and whipped him soundly. Then I punished him before her as I am about to punish this youth. After that, he was made to wear a kilt without drawers for the rest of his holidays-about town as well as in the house."

Miss Stormont then directed her attention again to me. After my experience I had not much doubt how she intended to punish me; and I can safely affirm I squirmed considerably. She increased the pressure of her leg underneath me, and her arm above, adding to my troubles and excitement, by driving the plug yet further in. Then she caught hold of my lance which stood out in the air, her dainty little hand about it made it grow still more. She moved the foreskin up and down, causing the most poignant sensations a woman can give a man. I sighed and sighed. She would not desist. The more I wriggled the tighter she held me, the more she smiled. Then, at last, with a cruel jerk, which made me jump and exclaim, she forced the prepuce right back over the swollen animal, leaving his wet, raw, red head exposed and wagging in the air.

"There," she cried, with exultation, "now show yourself to Mademoiselle," and making me stand up and holding up the garments with both hands, which I could not do myself, as my hands were tied, she obliged me to turn round and, to my shame, display myself.

Mademoiselle looked, and so did Elise, with pretty shocked exclamations and heightened colour, whilst Miss Stormont complacently enjoyed her triumph, and the train rushed on. When they had gazed as long as they cared, Miss Stormont dropped the garments and began pulling up my trousers.

Mons. Priapus decreased in stature and girth, but the skin did not right itself.

"Suppose we leave him so for an hour or two," quietly observed my fair tormentor. "What he has behind is on your account. What he suffers in front will atone to me-he has to thank me for it, and it will teach him in future to restrain his impudence and to behave himself in the presence of strange young ladies."

She was so charming that really I did not very much regret having something to thank her for, but I felt woefully uncomfortable, notwithstanding.

"Yes, certainly," cried Mademoiselle, delighted. "Button him up, Elise!"

Elise caught me roughly, and without ceremony bundled me over to her, and drew up, adjusted, and fastened my clothes. Then I was again made to occupy the seat between Miss Stormont and herself, my hands still bound, wretched in front and behind.

"Just before you came in," observed Mademoiselle, "my maid was sitting on him. Shall she resume her place-or as you have taken possession of him in front, will-?"

"To be sure I will," exclaimed Miss Gertrude with alacrity before Mademoiselle had time to finish her sentence.

She jumped up and plumped flop down upon me without another word. I wriggled into as comfortable a posture as possible and panted for breath. The more I moved the more closely she pressed me with her thighs and her pretty back. It was a more agreeable experience than Elise's sitting on me and she did not treat me so roughly; although I was pressed well into the arms and cushions, and thoroughly well oppressed by her, she did not give me the severe and painful nudges Elise had given me, nor thump me with her elbows. And so the minutes and the miles passed, Mademoiselle and her new-found friend chattering and laughing, utterly ignoring me. They compared notes, chiefly on education; spoke of various instruments of punishment, told anecdotes, discussed the corset, strait-waistcoat, stocks, backboards, callisthenics, amp;c.

Mademoiselle amused her friend hugely by describing the perplexity of a lady, the mother of a boy and girl, who had been left a legacy on condition that she dressed them both alike until they attained twenty-one years of age. She did not know whether to dress both as boys or both as girls.

"I should have had no difficulty. I should have dressed both as girls," said Mademoiselle.

"Of course," exclaimed Miss Stormont with a determination and conviction which settled the question.