Weals & Tears
Mrs Rohr tapped her cane against her thigh as she confronted the class. "Step forward, Eliza, Lilly." She pointed to the right-hand side of the dais on which her teacher's table stood. " Eliza, remove your skirt and knickers. Bend across the table and hold the far corners." She stepped behind Eliza and gestured to Lilly to stand back as she assessed the length of the strokes. Eliza's pale face tensed and the suspicion of a tear started welling. She unclipped her skirt and slid her underclothes off, placing them on the floor, and stretched her arms across the long desk. Her dark hair fell across her head. Mrs Rohr drew it aside so Eliza's face was again visible to her audience, folded back the trailing blouse and stood back.
The other dozen students sat stock-still at their desks. Lilly watched the cane slowly slide across Eliza's bare bottom before the disciplinarian suddenly swung her arm and the first stroke impacted. There was the space of a breath before Eliza moaned and the stripe reddened across her backside. Mrs Rohr waited and Lilly watched, until the second stroke, a mere inch from the first. Now Eliza's moan turned to a muted howl. Lilly could not see her face but the riveted gaze of her classmates told her that Eliza's tears were now flowing. Again and again the teacher's cane thrashed across Eliza's buttocks. The agonising weals showed in regular lines from the top curve down to the crease with the thighs. As the caning neared the dozen stripes Lilly's apprehension grew. What did Mrs Rohr have in mind for her?
Mrs Rohr did not announce the end of the caning. She left Eliza where she lay while she turned to address Lilly. "That is your friend's punishment. You deserve more than that, but I think that should be for your guardian to decide. As term ends tomorrow, I have a letter for him. Read it now." Lilly read:
"Dear Sir
In conformity with your wishes I have disciplined your charge on several occasions, but I regret that she repeatedly offends, and I would suggest that I should defer to you the decision as to the severity of the next punishment she is now due. The last time I administered discipline I applied 24 cane strokes on her naked backside, which had a salutary effect for only a short time, indeed she almost appeared eager to re-offend. I respectfully suggest that 3 dozen would not be amiss, in such circumstances as would impress on her that you fully endorse my measures. Whilst a biddable young woman generally, she may utter exaggerated cries or pleas; I consider these merit further strokes to demonstrate that winsomeness does not bring reward. It is in your sole discretion as her guardian but I find that the law of diminishing returns applies even to a sound thrashing and I would limit the extras to perhaps another 6, not to exceed 50 as a full maximum at the outside limit. You may have other ways of persuasion and as her guardian your view must prevail.
I remain as I hope your ward Lilly will become your most humble and obedient servant,
V. Rohr’’
By H.B.
