GERALD FOUND HIMSELF FACE TO FACE WITH A PRETTY YOUNG WOMAN IN A DOCTOR'S JACKET. SHE SMILED AT HIM, THEN TURNED TO THE NURSE HOVERING IN THE DOORWAY.

"I'LL CALL YOU IF I NEED YOU, EMILY,"

SHE SAID.

THE DOOR CLOSED SILENTY BEHIND THE NURSE, AND THE DOCTOR TURNED BACK TO GERALD AND RAN HIS EYES OVER HIS TREMBLING FIGURE IN A SPECULATIVE FASHION.

"SO THIS IS GERALD, SHE SAID AFTER

A LONG MOMENT.

GERALD CRINGED UNDER HER GAZE. "YES, DOCTOR, THIS IS HE!" HIS AUNT

REPLIED.

"FROM THE NEATNESS OF HIS WAIST, 1 CAN SEE THAT HE HAS ALREADY BEGUN FIGURE TRAINING."

GERALD'S CHEEKS CRIMSONED AND HE HUNG HIS HEAD IN SHAME.

THE DOCTOR CONTINUED.

"UNDER THE

CIRCUMSTANCES, THAT IS A VERY WISE PROCEDURE. PROPER LACING TENDS TO ELIMINATE ANY UNBECOMING BOYISH SLUMP. SHE TURNED TO GERALD. "YOU MAY BEGIN DISROBING!"

G

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GERALD CAST A PLEADING GLANCE TOWARD HIS AUNT. SHE COMPLETELY IGNORED IT AND BEGAN TO UNBUTTON HIS BLOUSE. HE KNEW IT WAS UTTER FOLLY TO ATTEMPT TO RESIST THESE DETERMINED WOMEN, SO HE SUBMITTED MEEKLY.

THE DOCTOR LOOKED ON APPROVINGLY AS HIS CORSET CAME INTO VIEW, THE SILKEN VEST PEEPING PROVOCATIVELY INTO VIEW OVER THE TOP. HIS FINGERS TREMBLED SO THAT HE COULD SCARCELY MANAGE THE BUTTONS FASTENING HIS KILT.

FINALLY, THE SKIRT SLIPPED TO THE FLOOR ABOUT HIS ANKLES WITH A LITTLE WHISPERING SIGH. HE LET HIS PETTICOATS FOLLOW, AND THEY MADE AN ENTICING LITTLE PUDDLE OF PINK AND WHITE ON THE FLOOR.

200

ER

000

"OH, PLEASE! MUST REMOVE MY DRAWERS?" GERALD INQUIRED, TEARS OF HUMILIATION TRICKLING DOWN HIS CHEEKS.

ER

000

"OF COURSE, GERALD!" HIS AUNT REPLIED IN AN IRRITATED TONE. SHE REACHED OUT HER HANDS TO SLIP HER THUMBS UNDER THE ELASTIC WAISTBAND OF THE FRILLY GARMENT, AND TUGGED IT DOWN TO ADD TO THE LITTLE CIRCLE OF LACE AND RIBBON-FRILLED GARMENTS AT HIS FEET.

"HOW FASCINATING!" EXCLAIMED THE LADY DOCTOR AS HIS FRILLED SHEATH WAS EXPOSED.

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