"Then don't give her time to think about it," said Lady Emma, as she and her sister rose in a very stately manner from their seats. "We are going into the next room, and shall be ready for her in two or three minutes. You had better give her a glass of wine to keep up her spirits."
I had hardly time to swallow a second glass, as Mr. Carton said they meant real business and would be back in a jiffey, before they threw open the door and reappeared, each of them having discarded her dress. They had only on their white petticoats, set off by handsome corsets, which displayed all the glories of their splendid bosoms to the best effect; and when I add that they were both lovely brunettes, with blue-black hair, dark hazel eyes set under splendidly arched dark eyebrows; long, drooping eyelashes; cheeks like a mixture of milk and roses; and the whole set off by ruby lips and pearly teeth, you may imagine it was a sight to move St. Anthony himself, especially if he could have caught a glimpse as I did of fine knickerbocker drawers, trimmed with costly lace, and lovely legs and feet in white silk stockings and Parisian boots, high-heeled and sparkling with diamond buckles.
Each had a lovely swishtail of birch in her right hand; not heavy rods, but just four or five pliant twigs of considerable length, elegantly tied together with blue velvet and magenta ribbons.
Advancing to me, "Come, Miss Eveline," said Lady Emma, "allow us to conduct you to punishment. We have a nice ladder in the next room, and our brother here shall enjoy the sight of your humiliation and disgrace."
"You shan't whip me! I didn't know what I was sent here for. No; indeed I won't, ladies! touch me if you dare!" I exclaimed. "Let me go! I've had enough of such nonsense!"
"Here, Walter, help us," they appealed to their brother. "She shall soon change her tune, the impudent hussey! What a joke to think she didn't expect it!"
Mr. Carton, who had placed himself before the door to prevent my attempted retreat, threw off his coat, and then all three seized and dragged me, in spite of my pretended resistance, as I cried and screamed by turns. Their excitement seemed to give them extraordinary strength, and I was soon fastened up by my hands to the ladder, and my dress, all in tatters from the struggle, was at once pinned up round my waist, then my drawers were opened behind, just as I found one ankle tied by some kind of cord to the bottom of the ladder.