"I will not be tantalised for nothing," she said. "Lie on your back on the bench, as Julia did. I shall make you kiss my bottom, for your impudence."
Alice demurred, but quite uselessly. Mademoiselle was aroused and inexorable. She had to put herself in position, and I envied the squeezing she got, evidently only from her back.
Her countenance had changed when she got up.
"I do not like kissing you behind."
"Then hold your impudent tongue, or, next time this occurs you will not be allowed to get up until you have inserted it where it will indeed be punished!"
I was glad to see Alice taken down a peg or two, and to find Mademoiselle able to hold her own, as indeed, at all times and in all places she always did with a wit and self-possession peculiarly French.
In the afternoon, Maud, Beatrice, and Agnes were in the schoolroom where I went from luncheon which Mademoiselle had had served to herself, Alice, and me in a private room. Agnes instantly hailed questions upon me.
"What did she do to you, Julia? We thought we should never see you again. Where were you whipped? Let me look. What were you made to undergo and is Lord Alfred really a man? We waited and waited and waited and when Mademoiselle did not appear and twelve o'clock came, Elise took Bee away, and locked her up in some black hole. She is blinking like an owl at the light-that's why; but how tired you look, Julia? And I am sure Beatrice has had no lunch."
"Indeed I had, Agnes!"
"Oh, only the potato parings, and what was left on the servants' plates!"
Beatrice flew at Agnes, who, with a burst of laughter, made off.
"I wish you two would not play the fool," said Maud deprecatingly. "You will only let us all in for it if you do."
Beatrice did look queer in her youth's clothes-an Eton jacket and trousers. What a bottom she had!
She carefully averted her eyes from mine which she was determined not to meet. Her hair had been rolled up and she looked shamefaced to the last degree.
"Isn't she a great, big, rollicking tomboy?" enquired Agnes with intense glee and stealing up behind her.
Agnes, in the excess of her spirits, brought her hand smack down upon the redundant hemisphere which protruded at the base of Beatrice's jacket.
Beatrice turned round furious and Agnes would have received condign punishment from her had she not seen Mademoiselle standing stern and silent at the door. They were nicely caught in the very act.
"Upon my word," remarked Mademoiselle. "Lord Alfred, the very moment we open the schoolroom door the need of a tutor becomes apparent. I will leave you to deal with this."
"Certainly, Mademoiselle; only too happy."
Agnes had seated herself at the table and looked very crestfallen.
There was a rocking horse in the room-a great big one.
"Master Beatrice," ordered Alice, "mount that horse. We will deal with you presently, Agnes."
"Oh, I can't-I won't!"
"Have you a cane, Mademoiselle?"
"To be sure."
"Now, Master Beatrice, consider this little fellow. He will sting more"-swishing it through the air-"than your sister's hand."
The saddle was an old one, with a big knob in front and it was high at the place Beatrice would be wedged in between, and I knew where she would feel the pressure, especially if anyone was so ill-natured as to rock the animal.
Mademoiselle had seated herself comfortably in her armchair, and calmly awaited the progress of events.
The sight and swish of the cane appeared quite sufficient motive to Beatrice.
She mounted reluctantly and immediately put one hand on the saddle to relieve the pressure on the sensitive regions of her body.
"Julia," said Alice, "take her handkerchief and tie her hands behind her."
"Oh, no!" exclaimed Beatrice piteously, becoming white, red, blue, and green all at once. "Oh! The saddle hurts me."
"You do not suppose I desired you to get up there for your own amusement, do you? Do as I tell you, Julia."
So I was compelled to tie her hands as directed. She was almost in tears. When I had tied her hands Alice put her foot on the rocker and set the animal in violent motion.
Beatrice exclaimed loudly, turned very red, expostulated, threatened, and implored by turns. She was compelled to make the most ridiculous efforts to avoid falling off. That necessity made her squeeze the beast with her legs.
The rough usage they met with and which the nerves and regions between encountered made her positively glow with shame.
The combat in her countenance between shame, vexation, and sensuality was ludicrous to behold.
Mademoiselle laughed till the tears ran down her face and until her sides must have ached.
Alice bade me keep the horse going. I had had my turn of punishment in the morning and could now thoroughly enjoy the events of the afternoon free from all apprehension on my own score.
I rocked the horse with my foot as if it were on the pedal of a wheel, holding my handkerchief in one hand and my gown up daintily with the other.
