Ruled by the Rod Read Online Free PDF Page B

soon taught us
that, by turning one knee in against the other, that foot could be
swung up onto the first step, and the process repeated either with
the same foot or its companion, and the stairs might be negotiated
fairly readily, but with either a halting step or a strange
twisting motion. No matter, we would be able to provide papa with
his meals in his room, and those other services we were learning to
render him, and reach our own bedrooms too.
    It appeared
that papa intended that we should wear these devices day and night,
hence the removal of our drawers, and that we would no longer have
any need for such garments in the future. Apparently one of his
learned friends, a medical man, was of the opinion that a woman's
genitals should be kept open to the air, for health and sanitation,
though a napkin might be worn when our time of the month was on
us.
    The saddler
had done a fine job of measuring and manufacture, and the bands
clasped us firmly, but not so tightly as to interfere with
circulation. The leather was soft, thick, and had rounded edges so
as not to chafe us, though we found that with continuous use they
did dig into our flesh a little, especially if we forgot the humble
gait that had been impressed upon us, and brought ourselves to a
jarring stop by overstepping the length of chain. The bands were
closed by pushing one end into a slot in a boss formed on the rear.
When the ends were fully home an internal spring catch engaged, and
the band could not be removed without cutting through it; an almost
impossible task for us, the band being tempered steel and we bereft
of locksmiths tools. Not that we have attempted such a violation of
our father's command to wear them day and night, but it was somehow
comforting to know that, even away from his presence, he had actual
physical control of our persons. I think we all basked in an added
feeling of security as we tested our new fetters. We even welcomed
the fact that they were steel, and would require to be regularly
scoured to keep them rust free and shining, especially after our
outdoor ablutions, the sense of participating in our own restraint
adding to our proper feelings of submission.
    That evening
we were all summoned to papa's study. It was one of those rare
occasions when no one of us was subjected to his rod. He contented
himself with having us draw our skirts up to our thighs so that he
could inspect our newly acquired curbs, checking them for tightness
and security, and having us move about to demonstrate the limits on
our mobility.
    We settled
into our established routine, although a slightly different pattern
was emerging. We found ourselves summoned to receive papa's
guidance, and relieve his troubled spirit, on a more regular basis,
each of us being required to attend him at weekly intervals, and in
the order of our births. I do not know which was more trying for
our nerves, the uncertainty that had prevailed before, or the near
certainty that one could predict one's correction and service to
the day.
    It was not
long before the saddler's efforts bore further fruit. Soon we found
ourselves wearing high collars, constructed on the same principles
as those below our knees, but of such a width that they fitted from
the collarbone to the jaw-line, where a roll edge ensured we were
not too severely chafed. But we were obliged to keep our chins up
and our heads held high. It was providential that our fetters were
delivered some time in advance of the collars, as we had had some
time to master the art of placing our feet on rough ground while
constrained to tiny steps. And more particularly, we had perfected
the mode of ascending stairs by turning in one knee against the
other, and could manage it competently without the need to look
down, which the collars, of course, made quite impossible.
    On one
occasion, Charlotte had the temerity to make some remark to papa
about the apparent biblical condemnation of the stiff-necked. She
was still inclined to behave in