The titles of the first eight chapters in Volume Two are as follows:
I – Retrospection
II – Retribution – “Saeve Venus”
III – A Hint from Caesar
IV – Elise – The last Time
V – Maud
VI – Short Frocks
VII – Sat upon
VIII – Gertrude Stormont

These chapters describe the events following the “catastrophe” which occurred in the last chapter. Punishments ever more extreme including every kind of sexual abasement are suffered by those involved.  Julian is then taken by train to London to be “unsexed”.
For this journey he wears trousers and jacket, but he is treated as a child and wears girl’s  underwear. In the course of the journey, a young lady is allowed to join  them in their compartment, and she becomes an  active participant in the process of dominating and humiliating Julian.

Chapter 1

The first chapter is headed with this quotation:

When Heracles in consequence of the murder of Iphitus was ill of a serious disease, and received the oracle that he could not be released unless he served someone for wages for the space of three years, Hermes accordingly sold Heracles to Omphale . . . .
(By whom he became the father of several children!)  (1)

This is taken from Apollodorus, 'The Library', II, vi, 2-3 (see Loeb edition, vol. I, pp.239-41) and represents the oldest stage of the Omphale story. The text goes on, “Hercules served Omphale as a slave, and in the course of his servitude he seized and bound the Cercopes at Ephesus”. That is to say in performing the penance  he carries out typically Herculean Labours. The second stage is when they become lovers, and  a son is born to Omphale (see Diodorus of Sicily, 'The Library of History', Loeb edition, II, pp.441-445).

The words in brackets are the author’s own: Hercules of course had dozens of children. It is only in the much later third stage that Hercules exchanges clothes with Omphale and becomes a female slave!  Images of this have not been found earlier than the Hellenistic period, say about 300 BC, while the earliest literary source is Ovid’s (43 BC- 17 AD) 'Heroides', IX . The point I am making is that the story of Hercules in female attire or spinning wool is just as much an invention of art or literature as that described in the book under discussion.

The narrator makes some comments about the rarity of pictorial or sculptural depictions of  Hercules under the sway of Omphale, apart from the statue in the Borghese casino. He continues:

'Omphale ruled like Mademoiselle by force and love, not like Beatrice by the last alone. I have come to the conclusion that women rule all men; why is the subject, the truth, ignored? It would be some help, some consolation to me, as I continue this narrative of my own subjugation to the petticoat, if it were not. I am conscious of the existence, and encouraged by the knowledge of many fellow-victims, but can obtain no openly expressed sympathy. A club of hen-pecked husbands, if started, would find but one member, myself, and I doubt whether even I would venture to send in an application to join unless – unless she compelled me to do so; and it is exceedingly likely she would'.  (2-3)

The author takes up the sequence of events:

' Mademoiselle Hortense de Chambonnard had now such a hold upon me that I dared not resist in the slightest anything whatsoever that she might take it into her pretty little head to do with me and I feared greatly, and quaked and trembled exceedingly, as I wondered and marvelled what that would be. My fate, my destinies, my fortune, were now completely in her hands, and hopelessly at her mercy, as formerly my unfortunate body had been.

' Formerly there was necessarily some limit, for she had no hold upon me. But now, by my own act, with Maud’s assistance, I was at her mercy, and my future, I felt, was in her hands.

' Dire were the threats she used that evening when she had me brought down to her bedroom. I quailed before the storm, and not understanding all that she threatened me with, I took the earliest opportunity of consulting a dictionary.

' I was to be taken up to London to be unsexed, to be circumcised, to be castrated. I did not wish to become a Jew or a gelding. When I read the meaning of the words, I all but fainted. Mademoiselle depicted my act in the blackest colours. But when, after rating and abusing me for a quarter of an hour, she began to say that I had done Maud an irreparable injury, I wept, for my heart pulsated, transiently, but really, for that dear girl. (3-4)
 . . . . . . .

' It was arranged that in three days Mademoiselle and Elise would take me to London, to be unsexed, circumcised, and castrated; that the meantime was to be spent by me in Mademoiselle’s bedroom and the room opening off it, where I was to sleep, so that I might be a close prisoner and never out of her sight; that I was to spend those three days naked, and upon bread and water, and was to be birched each morning - first by Maud, then by Beatrice, then by Agnes; then, on my return, I was to be handed over to Lady Ridlington, who was invited to pay Mademoiselle a long visit.

' The idea of being unsexed filled me with nervous terrors, as I stood quaking and naked before my furious governess, who looked simply lovely in her anger'. (5)

While they lie strapped together back to back, Maud and Julian talk. Maud is not angry with Julian: in fact she has no idea that she may have a baby, something that Julian has to explain  When she asks him whether he has done this with Mademoiselle, he realises that this would make her jealous:

'All the years that have elapsed since the period I am speaking of, have failed to teach me the reason of this desire in each individual woman to exclusively possess all the men whom she favours. My petticoats, my being so long treated as a female, my experiences with Lord Alfred Ridlington in the conservatory, have given me a great insight into the mystery of female feelings, into the sensations of a woman, when bestowing her choicest favours, and  what I have yet to relate has deepened this insight; but although I can understand her coveting exclusive possession, I have never been able to regard it as reasonable'. (10)

In the course of the conversation Maud says:

“Oh, Julian, I wish you would tell me how you felt when Mademoiselle first birched you. How dreadful it must have been for you, a big boy, to have had your trousers taken off before us girls, and your bare bottom birched by your governess in her bedroom”.

“The sting soon drove all ideas of the kind out of my mind”, said I. (15)

A little further on Julian reflects:

'Wherein does the charm, the esoteric feminine magnetism, lie? Verily petticoats, drawers, corsets, long silk stockings, have a powerful and mysterious influence.

'Maud, naked, did not possess the same power over me as Maud in her petticoats. When I lay extended in an absolutely nude state before Beatrice, it was the fact that she was clothed and I naked, which I felt so keenly. Had she also been naked, I should not have suffered so much shame. There is no severer ordeal for a young man than to be naked in the presence of clothed damsels. Whence the subtle influence of clothes? If women abandon their garments in favour of a “rational” costume, they will at the same time lose much of their empire over men.
     . . . . .

'Certainly, if woman be an image of unlawful pleasure, she, I reflected, thoroughly does understand the whole art and craft of associating her lovely self with endearing and ennobling petticoats, frilled and tucked and laced, with a glimpse half revealing the exquisite beauties stimulated imagination then depicts as concealed'. (16-17)

Chapter II

In Chapter II, the author gives the whole sequence of events in more detail. Elise comes and unties the two culprits. She denounces Julian and takes him down naked to Mademoiselle, who tells him  what is going to happen to him as described above. On the threat of his father being told, Julian agrees to submit to her in everything. He satisfies her by mouth and then she urinates on him. The chapter ends with these words:

“Now,” continued Mademoiselle, looking complacently at me, “I shall try an experiment which has been recommended to me by a German friend as a capital means of curing bad boys’ indulgence of uncontrolled passions”.  (27)

Chapter III - Chapter V

In Chapter III, Mademoiselle tickles his throat with  feather, until he vomits, like Caesar before Cicero’s banquet. In Chapter IV Elise is brutally punished in her turn. Julian receives more chastisement and eventually spends the night tied up naked with Elise in a large linen bag, with the inevitable result. Chapter V describes the punishments inflicted on Maud, which Julian hears about many years later: whippings, degradation into the dress and work of a scullery maid, both nakedness and garments of nettles.

Chapter VI

In Chapter VI Julian duly receives his three successive whippings from the girls. Immediately after being whipped by Agnes he is dressed and taken to the station:

'Then I was dressed in trousers, waistcoat, and jacket – placed over a silk vest, a cambric chemise, long stockings, girl’s boots with high heels, long cloth drawers, a corset, and a camisole.

' The effect of the change of dress was startling. Amongst all the girls I felt much happier  dressed as a boy, and had a greater capacity for enjoyment; and no sooner had they seen me so attired, than they one and all gave themselves their little feminine airs and graces which they had abandoned more or less with me whilst I was in girl’s clothes. Mademoiselle, however, destroyed this bit of conceit, which she quickly perceived.

“He only appears a boy – really he is a girl”, she observed with superciliousness. At this remark we all blushed and Agnes giggled'. (50)

Chapter VII

In Chapter VII they drive to Stowmarket station in a brougham, which takes 25 minutes. During the journey Julian is made to kneel on the floor of the carriage between Mademoiselle and Elise and when they arrive at the station he is told to stay there while Elise gets out first. Waiting for the train he is deeply embarrassed.

' I trembled, glowed with colour one minute, and became ashy-pale the next, in rapid succession. I had not a word to say myself – even walking into the station, whither Mademoiselle led me by the hand was a severe trial to my terrible self-consciousness.

“Elise,”  said Mademoiselle, “we should have dressed him like a little boy, in knickerbockers; his frilled drawers would have showed then. Why did you not suggest it?”

' I am sure some of the bystanders overheard, and I nearly sank down to the ground in shame.

' Why did Mademoiselle lead me by the hand, instead of allowing me to see to the baggage, and get the tickets, as might naturally be expected of a tall youth of my age? She led me by the hand, as though I was a helpless idiot, anxious to run away. All my sprightliness, presence of mind, and assurance seemed to have vanished.

' The idea of the vest and girl’s chemise, the corset, drawers, and long stockings, of the flannel petticoat, which I had narrowly escaped having tucked into my trousers, haunted and reduced my mind to silliness and made me perfectly soft. But I felt a substratum of indignation. It was all very well in the precincts of Downlands-Hall, in its gardens and in its terraces to be under Mademoiselle’s thumb, but here, in public, at a railway-station, with numbers of people to observe and to comment, it was quite another thing.

'As we walked about the platform, I feared it would certainly be noticed that I had girl’s boots on, and high heels, and that I was tightly laced up in a lady’s corset, which could easily be noticed under my jacket.

'As the light things had been removed from the carriage, I had been curiously scanned, but Mademoiselle had given her orders where the luggage was to be labelled for, and from that instant all interest in me appeared to have determined. I felt certain it would be noticed that the baggage was all feminine. I had not been permitted the honour of a portmanteau. A dress-casket and an imperial; there was nothing else.

“Coachee”, I heard one of the men say, “you have left the young gent’s box behind”.

'At length . . . the train . . . drew up, and the station master who gave me a very searching look, came to conduct Mademoiselle to the compartment he had reserved for her. What a relief to escape into the privacy of a railway-carriage from the quizzical gazes and prying eyes of these people. Mademoiselle had spoken to one or two acquaintances, and the amused stare they gave me, a kind of intelligent look, was positively insulting and maddening.

' With great deference, the station-master led Mademoiselle to the carriage, and I had yet bitter dregs to drain in the humiliating cup. She made me jump in first, just like a child'.  (53-55).

They reach Ipswich in seventeen minutes, after which Julian’s attempt at conversation, in the form of uttering what he calls a “joyous remark”, is treated as impudence by Mademoiselle, who insists that he must be punished by Elise. Julian begs not to be whipped,  and Mademoiselle replies, “You are not to be whipped this time, Julian. I am going to see if I can really impress upon you, that you are a girl”.  Elise partly undresses him and forces an instrument into his behind and then sits on him. When they reach Colchester the guard brings a young lady passenger to their window and Elise moves into the seat beside Julian.  (56-63)

Chapter VIII

In Chapter VIII, the guard asks Mademoiselle if this passenger may join them, and she agrees. Julian feels certain that she knows something has been going on. The newcomer and Mademoiselle pretend to read novels, but Julian cannot keep still  “with that thing inside him”.

“Why don’t you sit still, Julian?” said Mademoiselle, and then after a pause, speaking slowly and deliberately: “If you make me speak again”, looking full at me, “I shall thrash you soundly”.

'The stranger moved in her seat, a slight flush ran over her countenance, and she put her hand up to the knot of her hair at the back of her head, displaying her well-shaped arm.

“Is this young gentleman under petticoat-government?” she asked in rather severe tones. “Now-a-days, when boys are so unruly, it really does one good to find one who is made to mind”.

“I am very pleased”, answered Mademoiselle, with that courteous smile which I hated, “to hear you express such an opinion. Yes, he is certainly under petticoat-government - under petticoat-punishment, in fact. My maid was punishing him just before you entered the carriage”.

“He seems a big boy for it”, said the new arrival, scanning me curiously. “He must be eighteen, I should think. And pray how was she punishing him? I wish I had been here to see. I thought he looked very conscious and shame-faced, when I came to the door; and then when I heard you speak sharply to him, I at once guessed that, notwithstanding his great size, he was kept in strict subjection”.

“Yes, he is”, responded Mademoiselle, "and he requires it. And as for his size and age, petticoat-discipline is more salutary at his time of life, than if he were still a hobbledehoy. A youth of just eighteen, which, as you observed, he really quite looks, is particularly susceptible to women's influence; in fact, I think it would be a capital thing for all youths, when they leave school, to be in a young lady's hands, as he has been, to be kept in subjection until at marriage the yoke is forced upon them once for all. There would be fewer young fools silly with conceit in the world if this plan were followed. There is nothing like subjugation to a girl for taking the conceit and nonsense out of a young man”.

“I quite agree with you; but is he not going to college?”

"No; he has been entrusted to me instead; he so misbehaved himself at home that he is to be deprived of that privilege". (65-66)
[Julian protests at this.]

“I shall not permit you to go – my petticoats are your university; how dare you interrupt and speak to me in that tone?”

“Indeed, I should not allow it, I am quite shocked, he evidently needs a most severe regime”, said, with pious horror, the pretty light-golden-haired damsel, in closely fitting brown frock, which set off her plump figure to perfection.

“And has he not been to school?”

“Oh, yes, but they could not keep him there”. (67)

Julian protests that this is not true: he was not strong enough for school. All three women are shocked at this impudence, and Miss Stormont tells the others not to let her presence prevent him receiving “the treatment he merits”. Julian is made to kneel down and Mademoiselle gives him several stinging slaps on his cheeks with her gloved hand. He is made to apologise to Mademoiselle and then to Miss Stormont. The latter tells Julian that she thinks she too ought to inflict some chastisement on him.

“Pray do”, says Mademoiselle.

“I will do something to him, she said flushing a lovely colour, the more remarkable because of her clear fair complexion, “that my young brother, who has to wait and attend upon me, particularly hates. It has the advantage that it can be done anywhere, and it punishes severely”. Proceeding to unglove her dainty hand:

“Sit down!”

I sat down.

"Why does he wriggle about on his seat like that? Is there anything wrong with him?"

“The fact is”, answered Mademoiselle, "the young rascal has been making too free with a cousin, and is being taken to town for the express purpose of being unsexed. I thought, when he tried to make light of the matter, it would be well to remind him he was no longer to be a boy, by directing my maid to insert an ivory instrument - ”

“Into him? Capital!” cried the girl, clapping her hands. “Into him? – Behind, you mean. Oh, do take down his trousers, and show me. Here is plenty of time; we are not near town yet”. (68-69)

Elise uncovers his bottom and Miss Stormont examines the instrument. During the course of this, she tells him that her name is Gertrude.

' I recollected that women named Gertrude, Aline, Laura are always inexorable and fond of using the birch, without that voluptuous mercifulness which characterises the discipline of an Ellen, a Julia or a Mary. Names are a certain index to disposition amongst ladies in society, anyhow. A Violet is strict, but always by coldness, never by active infliction. It is true my governess was Hortense and her maid Elise. Anyhow, the moment I heard the name Gertrude I felt my fate sealed. (70)
 . . . . . .

“Now”, said Miss Gertrude, “before his trousers are buttoned up again, please, let him come to me. I was about to punish him, you will remember, when I asked to be shown that thing; and I should still like to be allowed to do so, if I may. I will give him a peculiarly feminine infliction”, she added, with a pretty menacing gesture. (71)

Gertrude then makes Julian lie backwards over her lap.

“It increases their punishment”, she explained, glancing first at Mademoiselle and then, for a moment, looking into my own eyes
(I noticed hers were swimming), “to let them see who is doing it”.

'Assuredly, if queer sensations can be considered punishment, I received it in full measure. The embarrassment of the position to a bashful and susceptible young man was extreme.

“Why, good gracious”, she exclaimed, after a slight further examination, “I declare, he has got a corset, chemise, lady’s drawers and stockings on. His attire puzzled me a moment ago. What a splendid idea! Now, young gentleman!” (72)

She exposes his genitals,  examines and fondles them.

“I can plainly see the mischief my eyes are doing”, she observed to Mademoiselle. “I must confess”, (with a winning smile) “I have often wished when a gentleman gazed into them, I could just slip my hand in and gauge their effect exactly. Some naughty boys have a slit in their trouser’s pocket for the purpose".

“Have they indeed?” said Mademoiselle, moving.

“Yes”, answered Miss Stormont, calmly fingering me all the time. “I found it out from one of my brothers, who is at Eton – not the one I have already mentioned to you. I discovered that all his trousers pockets had each one side of the top unfastened, and I caught him one day with one of the housemaid’s hands in his pocket. He tried to pretend she was merely seeing for herself whether the pocket was empty, as he had declared to her it was. She was a very pretty girl. Then I called him to me, and slipping my hand through, shewed him I knew the truth”.

“How dreadful! Whatever did you do?”

“I sent him up to my bedroom, and the girl too. I deprived him of his trousers, made her hold him down, and whipped him soundly. Then I punished him before her, as I am about to punish this youth. After that, he was made to wear a kilt without drawers for the rest of his holidays – about town as well as in the house”. (73-74)

Gertrude then draws back his foreskin over his erect penis, exposes him to the other two and  redresses him. She sits on him as Elise did before.

'And so the minutes and the miles passed, Mademoiselle and her new-found friend chattering and laughing, utterly ignoring me. They compared notes, chiefly on education; spoke of various instruments of punishment, told  anecdotes, discussed the corset, strait-waistcoat, stocks, backboards, callisthenics, etc.

' Mademoiselle amused her friend hugely by describing the perplexity of a lady, the mother of a boy and girl, who had been left a legacy on condition that she dressed them both alike until they attained twenty-one years of age. She did not know whether to dress both as both or both as girls.

“I should have had no difficulty. I should have dressed both as girls”, said Mademoiselle.

“Of course”, exclaimed Miss Stormont with a determination and conviction which settled the question. (76-77)

And so ends the chapter.

Remember that this is the first time that petticoat discipline had been treated in a literary form, and it is amazing how well the author understands it, even though its implementation was not yet widespread in the domestic setting. What better description could one find than:

' The idea of the vest and girl’s chemise, the corset, drawers, and long stockings, of the flannel petticoat, which I had narrowly escaped having tucked into my trousers, haunted and reduced my mind to silliness and made me perfectly soft...'

This series will return in the April issue.