Anonymous - Julie

I clapped my hands in brisk and businesslike fashion, not addressing myself to the gentlemen at all. “Good girls! How well behaved you are! You may rise now while the gentlemen escort me to my drawing room to take refreshments. Tidy yourselves and clothe yourselves. For your valour in the field, my pets, you may quietly join us, if you wish.” If you wish, said I, but then I had told them beforehand to be obedient in all things on this particular evening, though I do admit to having played a wicked trick on Jeannette, for I had not told her that her Papa was coming and had merely said that the Minister would have a male companion. All this suited my purpose well. To Jeannette I could afterwards say that her Papa's arrival had been unexpected, but that I could do nothing thereafter to hinder events. As to the gentlemen, the Minister had threaded Jeannette and, in all effect, Georges had aided and abetted the voluptuous act since he could not deny that he might have known of his nubile daughter's presence. There was no malice on my part in this, of course. I had merely to assure myself that the gentlemen were tactfully “netted” and that their future conduct would be as I wished.

Each took his exit in some confusion, though with a smirk of satisfaction lingering on the lips of each. I dallied a moment with my girls, whereat Jeannette threw herself into my arms all a-quiver and uttered only, “Oh, Madam!” “There, there, dear, how delicious you looked, and you, too, Cynthia. Put on your dresses, draw your stockings tight again, see to your hair, and let us all be cosy,” said I. “But, Madam!” Jeannette's little fevered cry followed me to the door, but I ignored it as I knew I must. In the drawing room I found Georges and the Minister very quiet-indeed, one might say speculative, though as I entered I heard them softly avowing to one another their total discretion at all times. I made no bones about hearing this, either. “That is what I like to hear, gentlemen!

Come, will you not take some port with me? The girls will join us in a moment. You see how delicately I treat them? None of us need have remorse. You saw them strapped but lightly, felt their bottoms warm, discovered not a single weal or mark-is that not true?” I skirted the other “little matter”-well, of course I did. They had no means of knowing that I knew and so to great extent were mollified.

“Indeed, we are content,” Georges said, and with greater truth than I seemingly had cause to believe. “There will be no-er-unwonted visits any more,” the Minister said gruffly and downed half of his glass! “Excellent, Messieurs, though if both or either of you wish to come again then I shall welcome you, as will my girls-but you alone, of course,” I added meaningfully. Each coloured up a little at that but did not look displeased, whereat I turned the conversation to more mundane matters. Then a very hesitant knock sounded at the door. “Entrez!” I called, and in with simpering feet came Cynthia and Jeannette. Georges sat upon a chaise lounge, I in an armchair, and the Minister accommodated as was I. “Do not be shy, girls. Jeannette, would you care to pour, and perhaps refill our glasses? Thank you. Have you greeted your Papa at all? You must, you know. Cynthia, I fear there is not another chair. Pray take your seat upon the arm of the Ministers chair. Good girl!” Cynthia has delicious thighs. They showed through her thin dress as so she perched and crossed her legs, a slight flush in her face. As for Jeannette, she had nowhere else to go but on the chaise lounge next to Georges and there seated herself, armed with a glass, most sedately, gazing at me in much awe. Oh, but I have over-run my time and space.

Forgive me if I fly. There IS a little more to tell, but for the nonce I must keep it from you, though not for more than a week, I swear. How long it takes to write! Oh, that we both had magic pens and could cover twice the pages that we do! No matter, it will keep you in suspense. And now your news of Alison and Sylvia, please!

Devotedly Julie

Editors Note:

Correspondents who address themselves to The Times and other worthy newspapers, frequently beg forgiveness of the Editor for taking up too much of his space-and this despite the fact that the said worthy has frequently had to cut half of their verbiage out. My own task in this respect has been much happier. I have omitted nothing that would be of immediate and stirring interest to the reader. Moreover, neither Julie nor Caroline nor all the others would have needed to beg my forgiveness for their “longeurs.” Had they indeed possessed “magic pens,” then this volume would have been happily twice as long. But now to Caroline's reply, since these two appear to be hogging the post!

My lovely Julie,

How naughty you are! You have never done the like before. Well-not quite!

Can you imagine my desire to know what was further said and what transpired in your drawing room on that sultry evening? Even so, I will forgive you for not telling me immediately, for I know you have a penchant for teasing-and more than that, it was indeed a lovely long letter that you wrote me. I have read it countless times and envisaged all! Dick was in no doubt whatever about renewing his acquaintance with Alison, whose bottom seems to haunt his dreams, whereas with Sylvia he has the close reality. “Why do we not have a picnic?” he opined. I thought it a capital idea. “A fuck al fresco?” I could not help saying, at which he put his fingers to his lips at such a wicked word, besides which Sylvia chanced to come in.

Having greeted me, she asked, “What were you talking about?” “A picnic,” I said, for I felt it might come better from me than from Dick. “With Alison and perhaps others,” I added. Sylvia twisted up her nose a little. “With Alison?” she echoed, and I suspected the return of a little jealousy there, even though she had sent her friend a birthday present. “Four's company-or six?” I rejoined merrily enough, which seemed to appease her, though she said a little fretfully, “I do not know anyone else we could invite.” Of course, she did, but was anticipating certain circumstances. “Have you never heard from Maude?” I ventured. Sylvia shrugged and said, “Oh, I do not know her very well. Scarce at all in fact. Besides, she ran away.” So saying this, she curled her lip as if she were the Great Adventuress herself! “Perhaps she would like such an outing. We could go to Chaileybury Place, for it is otherwise deserted at this time of year.

I know the owner, Lord Beckforth and his wife. They are away, but would be pleased to allow me free run of the estate.” “There would be servants, though,” Sylvia said grumpily, at which-determined to alter her mood (and, besides, she had quite given herself away in saying that)-I tickled her and made her laugh, while Dick beamed at the both of us. “Oh, very well,” she said at last, “but Maude will think it forward of me, I've no doubt.” “It she does then she will reply that she is otherwise engaged,” said I, though having little doubt of the outcome from all that I have previously heard. We both know that girls do like to be naughty together sometimes, for they feel that it excuses them and also gives them comforting that they are not alone in it. You see, I use psychology, too, you darling wretch! Well, Maude answered Sylvia's note that she would like to but could not come alone and so would bring her Mama! I did not tremor at the thought. Dick murmured fretfully that it would put our plans awry. I did not satisfy him completely as to that and with the merest hint or two that Adelaide was not so stuffy as might be thought, left him to brood upon it. It was inevitable that Horace should accompany Alison, though I'm sure she did not want him to! At any event, they arrived first on the appointed morning and she and Sylvia were very cagey with each other, that I can say. However, the arrival of Maude et Cie drew them together out of curiosity. Adelaide looked statuesque but beautiful, and uses kohl about her eyes in daytime.