Alice: a scene

“Mr Jenkins runs a residential school that trains poor and orphaned girls for a career in domestic service; you’ve been with him for two years or so now. Of course, there have been occasions where you have disappointed him on which he has had to chastise you, but generally you’ve been a good girl and eager to learn. A potential employer is visiting this evening, and you’re proud that Mr Jenkins has invited you to his house to meet the gentleman concerned, in the hope that he might offer you a position in his household. You’ve been told to be on your very best behaviour…”

But oh, how little she could have known of what was to befall her.

Mr Jenkins wanted Alice to look her best: a cold shower was called for, the carbolic soap being used to wash her mouth when she complained. She dressed in her room; again her attitude disappointed him; four sharp strokes of the tawse reminded her of his high expectations. After all, she was his favourite of the girls in his establishment: he was sure she’d do well for him. And if not, the alternatives of the workhouse or the streets would inevitably beckon.

He led her downstairs to meet Mr Murdstone, instructing her to be obedient. Sent her to the kitchen to fetch them white port. Made her stand whilst they discussed her. Made her describe the skills she’d learnt. Made her confess that she’d received corporal punishment on occasion where she’d fallen short.

“Perhaps you’d like to continue to interview her in private?” So Mr Murdstone and Alice were left alone in her bedroom. From the study next door, Mr Jenkins could hear faint squeals of protest through the closed doors. And then Alice appeared, dishevelled and half-naked, murmuring that Mr Murdstone had sent her and that he wasn’t happy.

Mr Jenkins followed her back into the bedroom. Learnt that she’d not been as compliant as she should have been – that she’d flinched when he’d touched her, proving reluctant when her potential new employer made her kneel so he could make use of her mouth. She was made to show where she’d been touched. And she was beaten, as she deserved to be: tawsed, then made to select a cane from the rack and punished first by Mr Jenkins and then, far harder, by Mr Murdstone.

And then girl and buyer were left alone once more, the doors open this time. Little was left to Mr Jenkins’ imagination as he sat reading in his study: that the girl was being soundly raped was clear for him to hear. And then she was brought before him once more, naked.

Eight hundred guineas was the usual purchase price, Mr Jenkins explained as the girl faced the wall. As she’d disappointed, he’d reduce that to seven hundred and fifty. The deal was struck; the gentlemen shook hands; young Alice despatched to her new life, ashamed and doubtless terrified…

—

A wonderful scene, with an oh-so-brave Bambi, and The Hunter. Not unduly severe in spanking terms – but deep, deep in character in emotional terms, and wonderful for that – fully repaying the long and careful planning that the gentlemen had put in in the weeks before.

Such fun! And, what’s more, you’ll be able to read accounts of the scene from the other two participants’ perspectives here in the next couple of days…