I then went down to lunch, and as I felt a little languid after all my various excitements, I had a bottle of champagne opened, which Frances and I soon disposed of. I told her that I had to go to London on business the following day, but I did not enter into particulars.
Next morning, as soon as breakfast was over, I drove to Winchester, caught the morning train to town, and went at once to Maud, whom I had not seen for some time. She was looking very well, and she had assumed a demure expression, as befitting a lady engaged to be married. She did not kiss me, so I laughingly took the little woman up in my arms; refusing to put her down until she had given me a proper salute. She soon gave me a kiss, and then we proceeded to business.
She told me all about her affairs, and informed me that her fiance was a well-to-do young tradesman in the neighbourhood.
When she had finished, I related to her Frances’ story, giving full details of everything the had occurred at Oakhurst since the first day the girl had come to the house. Then I asked her to let Frances live the her for a tome, and I also asked her to get the girl proper attire.
Maud was greatly interested in the romantic story; and she laughed heartily at my description of the way I had discovered Frances’ true sex. She was a good-hearted woman; she had always professed to be fond of me, and she was grateful to me, as I had always treated her well; so she at once agreed to take charge of Frances, and to look after her in every way, and she also promised to see that the girl was properly fitted out the everything necessary.
Then she remarked, the a sty smile: “I fancy yon must have taken Frances across your knees oftener than was necessary. I know how fond you are of whipping a bottom.”
“Oh, no. I assure you I never spanked her unless she was naughty. She will tell you so herself,” I said, laughing.
“I suppose you will put her here in my place when I go away to be married?”
“Yes,” I replied. “I have the lease of the house for some years to come; and I will take over your servants, and buy all your furniture as it stands.” I had originally given her the furniture.
“Oh, that will be most convenient. It will save me the bother of having an auction here, as I had intended. My furniture would not have quite suited the establishment of my future husband.” Then she added, with a grave face, but with a twinkle in her eyes: “You must not come near me after I am married. I am going to be very proper,”
“No doubt you will be,” I observed, laughing. “But you are not married yet, so come upstairs, and let me give you one last little touch of the rod.”
“Oh, but if you birch me, you will want to poke me as well; and I don’t think I ought to allow you to do that now,” she said, with affected coyness.
“Come along,” I said, taking her by the hand, and leading her up to the bedroom; where she at once took off everything, except her chemise, stockings and boots; then she got out the rod, and handed it to me, saying:
“Don’t whip me too hard.”
I made her lean over the side of the bed; then I threw her chemise up over her head, and admired her pretty little figure, naked to her garters. It was a long time since I had used the rod, and I grasped it with the feeling of pleasure that always comes over a lover of flagellation when he is about to redden a plump, white bottom.
I should have liked to birch her smartly, but I restrained my desire, and only gave her a dozen strokes, with just sufficient force to raise a bright pink blush on the cheeks of her bottom. She winced slightly at each cut, but did not remonstrate; and by the time I had finished whipping her I had a splendid cockstand; so I hid her at full length on the bed, and poked her with great gusto. She was a nice little woman, and a good poke; but she was not in her first youth; and I fancy she had been embraced by many a man; therefore she was not to be compared in any way with my fresh, young Frances. While Maud was dressing herself, I told her that I would bring Frances up to town in a few days. Then I gave her a cheque to cover all expenses; and after giving her a final kiss, I went away.
I got back to Oakhurst in time for dinner, and when it was over, and I had lighted a cigar, I told Frances that I had something serious to say to her. She looked very much surprised, but without asking a question, she drew a stool up beside me, and sat down to listen. I pointed out to her that we could not go on any longer living together at Oakhurst; as we were sure to be found out, and then there would be a great scandal, which I particularly wished to avoid.
I added that I was longing to see her dressed in her proper attire; and that I intended taking her, in a couple of days, to a lady friend of mine in London, who could see that she was fitted out in first-rate style, and with whom she could live until she had got accustomed to wearing petticoats again.
She listened, with a very sorrowful face, to all I had to say, and when I had finished, tears came into her eyes, and she said, heaving a deep sigh: “You are right. I am afraid we should get found out some day; so I had better go and live with your friend. Have you spoken to her about me?”
“Yes. I went up to London to-day on purpose to speak to her; and we settled everything. I was with her all day.”
A frown wrinkled her brow, she pouted her lips, and she glanced at me with a look such as I had never seen in her eyes before-she was evidently jealous of my “lady friend.”
“I suppose the lady Is a sweetheart of yours?” she snapped out suddenly, in an aggrieved tone of voice.
“She was my sweetheart before I ever saw you; and she is going to be married in a month; so you needn’t be jealous, you little goose,” I replied, smiling.
“I believe you love her more than you love me. I’m sure I shall hate her!” she exclaimed angrily; then, with feminine inconsistency, she began to cry. I felt annoyed, and spoke sternly: “Don’t be so silly, Frances. I have a great mind to give you a sound spanking for showing such ill-temper.”
“I don’t care if you do spank me,” she replied sobbing. Then she added fiercely: “I tell you I hate her!”
“You will make me very angry if you go on like that I have already told you that she was my sweetheart before I knew you. She is nothing to me now. Do be a sensible girl. You will like her, I am sure. She has excellent taste in dress, and you will want some one to help you when you are getting your trousseau.”
Her brow cleared, she wiped her eyes and smiled; all the woman in her was stirred at the thought of buying dresses.
“Oh, how funny I shall feel when I put on petticoats again. And long ones too! The last petticoats I wore, — the ones Mrs. Leslie turned up-were short, only reaching halfway between my knees and ankles.”
“You will soon get used to petticoats; and I shall be delighted to see you in a toilette from some fashionable dressmaker’s. I am sure you will look charming. You know I shall often see you.”
She laughed gleefully, got on to my knees, and kissed me, saying: “It will cost you a lot of money to dress me out, for I shall want to have everything of the very best description.”
“So you shall. And after the lady has married, and gone away, you shall live in the house, and I will go and stay with you.”
“Oh, yon darling!” she exclaimed, kissing and hugging me. “I am so sorry I was cross just now; but I am so fond of you that I can’t bear the idea of your being with another woman.”
Then she asked me a number of questions about the lady; and I answered as truthfully as was possible under the circumstances. However, she appeared to be satisfied with what I told her, as she did not show any more signs of jealousy, and by the time she had heard all I chose to tell her, it was late, so we went to bed.