foolish tongue; wait till you have something to scream about, girl.’
Then old Serena who, it seemed, was always in attendance at punishment
time, pinned up my skirts, and the Superior went on: ‘This rod shall
make all the sluggards turn out quicker in the morning. What do you
mean, Miss, by making us all wait prayers for ten minutes? Will you
wake up sharper in future?’
She then gave me several sharp cuts with the rod. My screams were
heartrending, but they only seemed to enjoy it more and more, and the
Superior never ended her objurgations till the rod was worn out.
_The Woman in White._
Mme. Hauteville made a very pretty toilette for the occasion—she was
all in white: in the costume of a novice when she takes the veil.
The dress had been considerably modified, as being too flowing for
the occasion, but it was all white silk and lace: and a lovely little
angel she looked when it was complete. From head to foot she had
nothing on that was not pure white; white satin shoes with diamonds
sparkling on the rosettes; white silk stockings, gartered above her
round knees with white velvet garters; white petticoats—one of the
finest flannel—embroidered with lilies, and one of soft lawn, with a
lace flounce. Her robe was silk—the soft noiseless sort that does not
rustle—richly trimmed with costly lace, and over her head she had a
square veil. She had her maid in to assist at her toilette and fasten
her garters and shoes. Madame submitted to be blindfolded with a very
good grace, though she tried hard to get us to tell her what was going
to be done; she had such pretty coaxing ways that it was hard to resist
her; but we did, and she went in quite unprepared.
We led her slowly up the room, and at the first stroke of the rod
nearest the door, she winced but did not cry out; the next blow she
received was a stinging one from a slipper my lady held in her hand
(she knows how to strike with a shoe, I can tell you), and she gave
a little scream and a jump. ‘Oh! what is it?’ she asked between her
teeth; but the next stroke, a fair open-handed slap from Mrs. D—’s fat
hand made her fairly shriek out and twist out of her grasp on to the
floor. It _was_ a slap, and rang out even above the laughter of the
ladies, leaving a broad red mark on the white firm flesh of the little
lady.
_Home Scenes._
Mrs. Eden was brought up in a convent. Her parents were Roman Catholics
and, having no daughter but her, they were desirous of bestowing upon
her every accomplishment, and foolishly imagined a convent education
far superior to any this country could boast of. There she lived till
she was twenty-five, when her father died, and she found herself in
possession of twenty-five thousand pounds. At the importunities of a
fond mother, who went to see her every year, she visited England and,
being a girl of good fortune, it is not to be wondered at that she had
a crowd of admirers. In her visits she was very much taken with that
part of a widower’s family generally found most disagreeable, at least
to young ladies—I mean his children. She observed they were indulged
by a weak father in everything, and were consequently very disobedient
and unruly. Upon this gentleman, though verging on forty, she fixed her
affections, and being a woman of ungovernable spirit, she was happy
to find him an easy pusillanimous creature. The match was scarcely
mentioned when it was concluded, and a few days after she found herself
at the head of his household. She had six little subjects to govern,
three of whom were then at school, who were instantly ordered home,
as she said she would finish their education, which indeed was in her
power, for she was a very sensible woman; but that was not her intent
altogether. It was the boys that were ordered from school, and right
happy they were at leaving so irksome a place; but they little knew
their stepmother. As soon as she was married she discharged all her
servants and hired a set of her own choosing, and among the rest she
took care to engage a French maid whose disposition she knew would just
suit her.
Mrs. Eden was of the first order of beauty, fine turned limbs, good
skin, fine blue eyes, and when not ruffled by passion was certainly
very captivating. If she stepped across the room she displayed uncommon
dignity and elegance, and had all the chic of a Frenchwoman.
Now although she had a passion for flogging, yet she was never observed
to take the rod in hand without cause. She was convinced where there
were such a number of children and they ungovernable, many bickerings
would arise which would give her an opportunity to amuse herself with
the rod. The first to give her a chance was a boy of seventeen who was
so stupid at a lesson she gave him that she resolved to try the effects
of birching. Her maid was ordered to bring a rod, which was no sooner
done than she proceeded to use it; but she found the boy too strong
for her. The maid, with the assistance of her mistress, tied his hands
behind him, and then they found him manageable enough and, the woman
holding his legs, his stepmother whipped him till the twigs flew about
the room.
This was the first sample of her severity, and it made such an
impression on the other children that they trembled in her presence. A
few hours afterwards the boy was tearfully complaining of her treatment
to his elder sister, who advised him to burn the rod at the first
opportunity. This was overheard by the maid, who informed her lady
of the affair. The young lady was summoned to the parlour, where she
denied the fact, was confronted by the maid, and well whipped.
[Illustration]
MEIBOMIUS, (J. H., M.D.) A Treatise on the Utility of Flogging in
Medicine and Venery; wherein many curious things are plainly set out
and elucidated, for the enjoyment of the curious and the delight of the
learned. Faithfully translated from the original Latin. Demy 8vo, cloth.