"If I frequently insist upon the importance of such matters, it is because the duty of a woman consists, if she would assure herself of happiness, in her ability to attach indissolubly the desires of men to her charms. Men have predominance over women as regards muscular or brute force, but we, with our powers of seduction, are able to crush their boasted strength to a pulp. Let us learn therefore to use our gifts nobly and well. You, dear Virginia, are of a becoming height. If the high heels which I oblige you to wear were designed solely for accentuating the height, in your case at any rate, they would be of no advantage. But they serve ultimately to give to the deport ment charming seriousness and well-bred dignity, fitting in well with that timidity of character which, in the eyes of the stronger sex, is not the least of our attractions. By curious contradiction, the style of deportment to which I allude, gives us at the same time a certain boldness of appearance which is a useful corrective to an air of timidity possibly so 176
pronounced as to inspire masculine admirers with fear to approach and disturb such coy and shrinking charms. The boot which reaches high up the leg conveys the impression of beauty of a proud imperious order, made for the crushing of hearts beneath our feet; and, at the same time, such a boot is symbolical of the slavery to which, of one's own will or through the energy of a man, we are momentarily sub,jected. Need I remark to you that your narrow, high-bred foot would profit by being adorned with a long tight boot? Your insted is already finely arched, but its line would gain in grace through the wearing of a exceed ingly arched boot with heels so high that the toes should be almost vertically beneath the level of the heel? She, too, how these heels are scooped out. Dubarry herself wore nothing more skilfully designed. These boots, intended for you use, are, you must acknowledge, veritable jewels or, to describe them better, perfect caskets suited for the treasures they will enclose. Here, dear Miss Malville, are your stockings. Your usual ones are pretty, but you must observe the rules of my academy.
Naturally, I have chosen excellent silk, in preference to any material of less value. See how soft they are! Put them on carefully, drawing them up properly, for one of the rules of this establishment is that stockings shall never show a wrinkle."
The girl crossed one leg over the other, as she sat on the edge of the couch, and obediently began to put on a stocking. Lady Flayskin watched her with a look of graciousness and amusement, for truly, the homely position gave the girl additional attractiveness. The variety of her charms was not indeed Virginia's least attraction. She put on both stockings with the carefulness, as regarded creases, to which she had been enjoined, and then received the boots from her mistress's hands.
But now her task was not so simple. The mistress had characterised the little low shoes which Virginia was in the habit of wearing as flabby and shabby. They fitted her exactly with no room to spare. Lady Flayskin had, consequently, given instructions to the boot maker to make the footgear much narrower than the pattern entrusted to him. Poor Vir178
ginia had therefore now to wrestle with an insoluble problem, the insertion in a given space of a body greater than that space. But woman boldly faces what to the logician appears impossible, and she conquers. Virginia made many wry, but becoming grimaces, heaved some big sighs, uttered sundry little cries, appeared greatly at a loss, even shed some tears, and finally struck forcibly on the ground with her heel, like an impatient mare pawing the soil, and finally succeeded in finding one foot within a boot. She paused a moment for breath. Then she resolutely set about getting the other boot on, while also declaring that she was horribly pinched and that never would she be able to walk in boots so narrow and uncomfortable.
Lady Flayskin corrected her in tones of severity.
"You must learn that it is necessary to be able to suffer in order to be beautiful. These boots f t you perfectly. See how wonderfully well your foot is now set off and how the calf now shows to advantage. Presently, when you have buttoned both boots up, you will speak.
differently, You wiII thank me. The slight feeling of pain will, it is true, moderate your gratitude, but that feeling will pass as the leather yields and your feet grow used to their new covering. You will then be proud to be so well shod, for, I repeat, we are now dealing with a point of prime importance in your apparel,"
The pretty pupil had succeeded in getting both boots on, and standing by the sofa, she placed alternatively one foot and then the other thereon in order to fasten the buttons. Such irreverent treatment of her sofa, Lady Flayskin would not have tolerated in the case of any other pupil.
Virginia was clothed only in her creaseless black silk stockings and her high boots, the latter reflecting the light from their polished tips. Her large posterior was thrust far out, as she bent to her task, showing her back, narrow at the waist and broadening at the shoulders. The girl appeared superb in this attitude.
It was consequently not without a little sigh of regret that Lady Flayskin painted out to her 180
the chemise of fine lawn together with the other garments intended for her use, all of which were laid out on a chair near her.
As the dressing began, the mistress sighed anew as she watched the partial eclipse of the perfect breasts, the snowy thighs and the peerless hinder globes.
Nevertheless, Miss Virginia's chemise did not by any means annihilate her seductiveness. Her aristocratic pride was now tempered by the modesty she had had instilled into her by the whip. She was moreover a spotless virgin. The net result was an inexpressible charm, greatly to the taste of the perverse-minded directress of the establishment who was a veritable connaisseuse in sensual impressions, from long experience.
After another interval of silent admiration, Lady Flayskin said:
"Now see how well your clothes become you! Admire once more the boots which fit you to perfection. It is difficult for you to believe how they will enhance your attractiveness. Drawers and chemise are necessary parts of a lady's costume, but there is a garment of 181
more importance. I place the boots, important though they are, below the stays, and please do not interpret this words in any ridiculous fashion. As regards any such interpretation, I have something to say to you. You have just smiled during my address to you. Accustom yourself to listen to everything I say to you, not only without interrupting, but without giving any sign either of approval or of disapproval. In a word, do not show any feeling whatever. The only requisite, which politeness renders obligatory, is profound attention. Do not forget.
"No, my lady."
"Do you understand the importance of my words?
"Perfectly, my lady."
"I congratulate you. I am decidedly of opinion that the whip has been most profitable to you. Are you not of the same opinion?"
"Certainly, my lady."
"Nevertheless, I shall not be so exacting as to expect you to thank me for your whipping. That, probably, you would find it difficult 182
to do with any heartiness. Am I not correct in my surmise? "
Both laughed, Lady Flayskin with open amusement, Miss Malville in a constrained and rather frightened way. It was a desire to please which had made her laugh, for she was afraid.
Poor girl, she had been right in her fears! Her astute mistress had had her own reasons for recalling to the mind of the pupil the cruel flogging with the thong of hide.
Her object was simply to make the girl comprehend perfectly, in the case of the smallest notion of rebellion remaining in the latter's mind, that it was indispensable for her to submit to the disciplining power of the corset unless she desired a second application of the treatment which had reduced her posteriors to such a sorry state.
Miss Malville quite un derstood the mistress's meaning and her terror of the corset was not diminished on that account.