ORNATE DESK AND GREETED HIM WITH A FRIENDLY SMILE.

"I AM VERY PLEASED THAT YOU HAVE DECIDED TO ATTEND OUR SEMINARY, GERALD DEAR, SHE SAID.

MISS LOUISE THEN LOOKED CHARMED AS GERALD MADE A DEEP CURTSEY TO HER, THEN REMAINED STANDING STIFFLY ERECT, AS HE HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED BY HIS AUNT AND JOSIE TO DO. BUT EVERY NERVE IN HIS BODY TWITCHED WITH MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT.

MISS LOUISE FINALLY MOTIONED HIM TO BE SEATED, AND HE SANK INTO A HARD, STRAIGHTBACKED CHAIR IN FRONT OF THE DESK, WHILE SHE OUTLINED THE RULES OF THE SEMINARY FOR HIS DELECTATION.

"GOOD MARKS IN YOUR LESSONS ARE OF PRIME IMPORTANCE. ANY FAILURES WILL BE PUNISHED BY A CANING BEFORE THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY OF STUDENTS. 00000

"YOU ARE TO CONDUCT YOURSELF IN A PROPER LADYLIKE FASHION AT ALL TIMES AND UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.

00000

"NO LOUD TALKING OR RUNNING OR JUMPING ABOUT WILL BE TOLERATED.

00000

"YOU ARE TO JOIN ALL THE OTHER GIRLS

40 -

DURING RECESS ON THE PLAYGROUND AND JOIN IN ANY GAME ASSIGNED TO YOU. 00000

"NATURAL ELIMINATORY RELIEF IS RESTRICTED TO TWICE DAILY, ONCE IN THE MORNING AND AGAIN AFTER THE AFTERNOON RECESS. ANY ACCIDENT' WILL BE PUNISHED BY HAVING ONE'S DRAWERS TAKEN AWAY AND REPLACED BY AN INFANT'S DIAPER, WHICH WILL THEN BE WORN FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL DAY." ON AND ON MISS LOUISE WENT WITH THE SCHOOL RULES, UNTIL GERALD WAS READY TO SCREAM OUT LOUD.

SHE FINALLY CONCLUDED HER DISSERTATION, LEAVING GERALD A BUNDLE OF NERVES AND OUTRAGED BOYHOOD. THE RULE ABOUT GOING TO THE BATHROOM WAS, HE CONCLUDED, TOTALLY CRUSHING TO HIS MASCULINE INSTINCTS.

MISS LOUISE FINALLY ROSE FROM HER CHAIR, OFFERED HER DAINTY HAND FOR HIM TO SHAKE, THEN SAID, "COME, GERALD DEAR, I SHALL SHOW YOU TO YOUR CLASSROOM AND INTRODUCE YOU TO MISS NATALIE, YOUR FOURTHFORM TEACHER. 01

STUNNED BY ALL HE HAD HEARD AND THE VERGE OF SHEER HYSTERIA, GERALD MEEKLY FOLLOWED MISS LOUISE DOWN THE CORRIDOR. THE SHRILL TONES OF GIRL'S VOICES WERE AUDIBLE THROUGH THE PANELS OF CLOSED DOORS. 41 -