morning she made me go and strip, and come back to her with mothing on but this garment, which was just like a sack, with short sleeves only, of soft white merino trimmed with red satin. It did not come to my knees, and my legs and feet were bare except for a pair of red sandals.
'Now take care what you are about, Perkins,' she said. 'I am going to deal with you exactly as the ladies in Rome dealt with their slaves.'
'But I am not a slave, my lady,' I said, pertinently enough, I dare say, for I felt angry. 'There are no slaves here.'
'You are mine as long as you are in this room,' she replied. 'When my toilet is sufficiently completed I shall punish you for that speech.' She made me bathe her and dress her hair, and then before she put on her stays she said quite calmly: 'Bring the rod.' I brought it, and she made me kiss her and beg her pardon for what I had said; and then I knelt on the couch, and she whipped me till she was tired—and I, well, I did not get over it for a long time.
Merry Order.
