I was glad to hear that he was a Northerner. The fact seemed to give me greater confidence in the man. (I had grown frightened and suspicious of all Southerners.) I told him that I also came from the North, and that I heartily wished to be back there. On hearing that, he insisted upon shaking hands. Then he informed me that he would take me all the way to Richmond and that we could expect to get there in about three hours.
The wagon was heavily laden, so we jogged along the road slowly and almost in silence. He was a taciturn man, while I, as you may suppose, was not inclined to talk at that moment. In fact, it was as much as I could do to prevent myself from crying.
When at length we reached the outskirts of the city, the man said most kindly that, if I would give him my address, he would drive me to it. I thanked him gratefully, telling him where to go, and, in about half an hour, we reached the house which Randolph had taken. It was a comfortable looking, three-storied building standing in a garden and situated in one of the best parts of Richmond.
The kind man got out of the wagon and helped me down. I asked him to come into the house and see my husband, who would like to thank him and also reward him for the service which he had rendered me. But the good fellow said that he wanted no reward and that he was glad that he had been able to help a Northern lady in distress. Then he bade me goodbye, and drove off.
I knocked at the door, which was opened by a good-looking, smartly-dressed, white servant-girl. I asked her if Mr. Randolph was at home. She looked curiously at me for a moment, then asked civilly if I was the lady Mr. Randolph had expected to arrive the previous night? I said that I was, and she at once asked me to come in.
She ushered me into a handsomely furnished room where I found Randolph seated at lunch.
He did not rise from his chair, but sat staring at me in surprise, noticing my pale face, red eyes and generally draggled appearance. After a moment, he said in an aggrieved tone, Why, Dolly, what an object you are! Where on earth have you been? What has happened to you? I expected you at eight o’clock last night. Where is Jim and the buggy?
I had not expected to be received with much show of affection, but his cold manner annoyed me very much. I was in need of sympathy and kindness at that moment. Oh, don’t bother me with questions, I said sharply. I have had hardly anything to eat for twenty-four hours and I am faint with hunger, so I mean to have something to eat and drink before I tell you what happened.
He looked quite surprised at my unwonted display of spirit, but he drew a chair to the table for me, poured a glass of wine and helped me to a cutlet. I really was famished, so I made a good meal, drank a couple of glasses of wine and had a cup of black coffee. Then, feeling much better, I sat in a comfortable easy chair and told him how Jim and I had been stopped the previous night by bushwhackers who had taken the horses, broken open my trunks and robbed me of everything I had in my possession. But I could not bring myself to tell him that I had been outraged by the three men.
He listened attentively to all I told him and, when I had finished, he asked: Where did you pass the night and how did you get here this morning?
I had expected the questions and was ready with the answers. I stayed in the woods all night-so I had, in the shanty-and this morning I met a man going by with a wagon. He brought me on to the city.
I do not know whether Randolph thought I was keeping back something or not, but he did not ask me a single awkward question. He was very much vexed at the loss of his two valuable horses, but he was rather amused at my description of the way the bushwhackers had kicked my clothes about in disgust.
Damn the thing, he said, I would not have sold those horses for less than eight-hundred dollars. But we can easily replace your finery, Dolly. It was lucky you left your jewelry behind. I will go to the police and give them the information, but I am pretty sure that nothing can be done. The whole country is in such a disturbed state. When you want to go to your room, ring the bell and Clara, the girl who let you in, will attend to you.
He went away, and I remained reclining in the easy chair for a short time. Then I rang the bell, and, when Clara came, I told her that I wished to go to my room. She showed me upstairs to a long, airy, prettily-furnished bedroom with an adjoining bath, and, as soon as she had gone away, I stripped myself and had a most refreshing bath, scrubbing myself all over with scented soap till at last I felt that my body was thoroughly cleansed from all outward impurities. When I had dressed myself, the girl came back and brushed my hair, and, though she was quite aware that I was not Randolph’s wife, her manner was respectful.
I put a few questions to her, and, since she was by no means reticent, I soon found that Randolph had been in the habit of poking her whenever he felt inclined. However, the knowledge of that fact neither surprised nor annoyed me. It was just what I had expected to hear from the moment I had seen the girl’s pretty face and neat figure.
After Clara had finished brushing my hair and had left the room, I lay down upon the bed and fell into a profound sleep. When I woke, I saw by the clock on the mantelpiece that it was seven o’clock. I had slept for four hours and I felt quite fresh. The color had come back to my cheeks, my eyes had lost their heavy look and the ill-treated spot was feeling fairly easy.
I was just about to get up and go downstairs when Randolph entered the room, and, coming to the bedside, looked down upon me.
Well, Dolly, he said, I suppose you’ve had a good sleep. You’re looking all right again, so I intend to have a poke to give me an appetite for dinner. It will be as good as a cocktail for me, and I will make you ’cock up your tail,’ he added laughing.
I loathed the very idea of being poked again, and I heartily wished that there was not such a thing as a male organ in the world. (Six times in less than twenty-four hours the horrid weapons had pierced my poor little spot, and now it was going to be transfixed for the seventh time!) However, I knew that if I made any objection it would only make Randolph angry and excite his suspicions, so I did not say a word.
The scoundrel now proceeded to cock up my tail by laying me in a curved position over the side of the bed, with my feet on the floor. Then, turning up my petticoats and letting down my drawers, he took a long look at my bottom. He stroked it and spanked it harder than was pleasant, saying coolly:
Well, Dolly, I must say that I have not seen a prettier bottom than yours or spanked a plumper one since I came to Richmond.
He then began to ram at me from behind with evident pleasure to himself, but with pain to me, for, though outwardly the spot was all right, the inner lips were excoriated.
I suffered a good deal, and I had to clench my teeth to keep from crying out. But to prevent his suspecting that anything was wrong, I worked my bottom backwards and forwards to meet his thrust as if I had been really enjoying the embrace, and, when he spent, I wriggled myself briskly.
I was exceedingly glad when all was over and he had withdrawn his member from the sore spot. However, he was pleased with me, and, giving me a kiss, he complimented me on the way I had done my share of the work.
After the necessary ablutions, we went down to dinner, which was a good one and also well cooked, the waiting being done by a neatly-dressed but rather elderly white parlormaid. (All the servants in the establishment were white women, whom Randolph had taken over along with the house, the owner of which had gone to Europe with his wife and family at the outbreak of the war.)