I pulled down her clothes, and she looked up in my face, smiling. Her own face had a contented expression on it, and her eyes were glistening. “Oh, sir,” she said, pretending to pout, “you should not have done that. You took me by surprise.”
“Never mind, Lucy,” I said, laughing. “You seemed to like it; and I am sure I did.”
She giggled, and a slight blush appeared on her cheeks. Jumping off the bed, she calmly fastened up the bosom of her dress, and shook her petticoats straight; then going to the glass, she arranged her hair under her cap; and when she had settled everything to her satisfaction, she turned round, and looked roguishly at me.
I gave her a kiss, which she returned, and then she left the room, looking as fresh and tidy as if nothing had happened.
I performed some necessary ablutions, and sat down, feeling much better; and I said to myself that now the ice was broken, I would often amuse myself by poking my plump and pretty young housemaid.
That night, after dinner, I told “Frank” how the watch had been stolen, and how it had been recovered. She listened attentively while I was speaking, and when I had finished she began to question me.
“Was the girl punished in any way?”
“Oh, yes,” I replied. “The girl was ‘horsed’ on Fanny’s back, and birched by Mrs. Grove.”
“Did you see her birched?”
“Frank” asked, in a tone of great interest.
“Yes, I did.”
“Oh, did you really!” Then, with a humorous twinkle in her eyes, she said, demurely: “Was it not rather strange that you should be present while the girl was being birched?”
I laughed, saying: “Oh no, I don’t think there was any- thing strange in my seeing her punished. I have been present on other occasions, at the birching of a girl.”
“Oh, indeed! You never told me that before.”
Again I laughed. “I don’t tell you everything I see or do, Master Frank.”
“No, I suppose you do not,” she said smiling. Then she went on: “Did Mrs. Grove birch the girl as severely as you once birched me?”
“I should rather think she did,” I replied. “Why, the birching I gave you was nothing compared to the birching the girl received. There were drops of blood on her bottom when the punishment was over.”
“Oh, how dreadful!” said “Frank,” shuddering a little. “How awfully sore she must be at this moment. It was sore for hours after my birching, although there was no blood.”
“Perhaps you have a finer skin than Anna. But she will soon get over the pain, she is a strong girl, and her bottom will be healed in a few days.” The subject then dropped, but “Frank” seemed to have been moved in some way, — whether it was pleasantly, or unpleasantly, I could not make out-by our talk about the flogging; she became silent and abstracted, occasionally looking at me in a peculiar way, and I thought that perhaps she was going to tell me her secret. But she did not, so I rallied her for sitting so silent, and told her to get a book and read to me.
She smiled, and getting up from her chair, went away to the library, returning in a short time with a volume of Shakespeare; then, seating herself near me, she read “The Tempest,” in a way that showed she possessed a large amount of histrionic talent. The time passed quickly, and it was late before we separated for the night.
VII
After the little affairs last narrated, things went on very quietly. The weeks passed; it was again springtime, and the grounds round Oakhurst were looking most charming. The fine old trees, from which the place took its name, were bursting into leaf, the garden was full of crocuses, violets, daffodils, and all the various spring flowers, and the mossy banks were everywhere starred with primroses.
“Frank” was just eighteen years old, she had become quieter in many ways, but she was more woman-like and affectionate in her manner towards me, so that I felt sure the day was fast approaching when she would declare herself to me as a loving girl.
I was as fond of whipping as ever, and I often longed to see, and to spank her pretty bottom; but latterly, I never could find the least excuse for taking down her trousers; she was just a well-bred, well-conducted young lady dressed in male attire. I sometimes used to spend a few days in London, and on those occasions I generally visited Maud, who was still under my protection, though she had informed me that she was thinking of getting married. When I was at home, I could always, whenever I felt inclined, “have” Lucy, who, ever since the day on which I had first poked her, had manifested an affection for me, which at times I found rather awkward, as I did not wish to be found out in an intrigue with one of my own servant girls. But yet I did not like to snub her, for I always thoroughly enjoyed myself when I did poke her; moreover she allowed me to spank her; and she had a bottom that was well worth spanking; it was so broad, so fat and dimpled; yet withal it was firm, and I revelled in it; especially as she could take a spanking better than any woman I have ever come across.
I sometimes spanked her till my hand was sore, and her bottom was the colour of beetroot, and as hot as fire.
I occasionally gave a dinner party to the neighbouring squires and their families, and on those occasions, it always amused me to see “Frank” in correct evening dress, looking quite the “gentleman,” taking into dinner, with perfect composure, some young lady, or buxom matron.
“He” always got on well with the ladies, to whom “he” was most polite and attentive; but since she had grown up, she had become shy with women, and they, I think, considered “him” rather a duffer, as “he” did not smoke, or ride to hounds, or go in for athletic sports of any kind. It had always been a source of wonder to me that none of the servants had ever any suspicion as to “Frank’s” true sex; but it is a fact, that during the whole period of her stay at Oakhurst, she managed to keep her secret from every one but me.
The time passed on; and at the beginning of July, I found that I should have to go up to London for some days, on business connected with the estate. I had not been, away from home for a couple of months, and when “Frank” heard that I was going to town for a time, she became sad and dejected; and on the day of my departure, she hovered about me the whole time, and I could see that she could hardly keep back her tears.
She had never before shown so much emotion at my going away; so I thought I would chaff her a little, in a good-humoured way; but I could not get her to smile; and she said, sorrowfully: “I shall not know what to do with myself, without you.”
I laughed, saying: “Why, I have often been away before. You must amuse yourself as you have always done.” Then I shook hands with her, and drove off, leaving her standing on the terrace, in an altitude of dejection. The girl was very fond of me; of that I felt sure.
I was detained in London longer than I had expected; but I received a letter nearly every day from “Frank,” and I could see from the way she wrote, that she was pining for me, and longing for my return. I also wished to go back to her; I often thought of her, and I did not go near Maud, but lived in chambers close to my club.
At last the day came when I was able to leave London, and I felt quite glad to find myself in the train on my way to Winchester.
When I arrived at the station, my dog-cart was waiting for me and in a short time I reached Oakhurst, where I found “Frank” on the terrace, waiting to receive me. She welcomed me warmly, her face beaming, and her eyes glistening; but as we were under the observation of the servants, she had to suppress all outward show of emotion, but I saw that she was much moved.