CITIES OF THE PLAIN
89
Lady Eliza Carton. My dears, this is Miss Eveline Birch, the naughty girl who has come to be punished. Her papa and mamma have given me carte blanche to whip her till she confesses her liaison with a young officer in the Guards and promises never to speak to him again. Won't it be fun, dears? But not for her. I rather guess it will be a serious business for her delicate etceteras; you understand what I mean."
"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
