she would be more convenient to hand. It might be mentioned, however, that, as she was a highly intelligent female, the appropriateness and naturalness of this position, its convenience, significance, and such, were quite obvious to her, quite aside from the sanctions of her training.
Brenner looked down upon her. It was hard for him to take his eyes off her.
“Earlier,” she said, “I had thought it disturbed you to have me at your feet.”
He regarded her, musingly.
They were in the room to which she had conducted Brenner.
It was a comfortable room, which contained a large, soft bed. It contained no window. Brenner had locked the door on the inside.
“One grows used to it,” said Brenner.
“You learn quickly,” she said.
There was, incidentally, only one chair in the room, that in which Brenner sat.
Brenner took a another sip of the coffee, a tiny sip, a lingering sip. He continued to regard the young woman, kneeling there, in the revealing silk, beside him, attendant upon him.
“I should not have you there,” he said.
“It is where I belong,” she said.
“We are sames, identicals,” he said.
“That is a pretense I have never found either plausible or congenial,” she said.
“I am a person,” he said.
“It is my hope that you are a man,” she said.
“You are a person,” he said.
“No,” she said.
“How then should I think of you?” he asked.
“I am a girl,” she said.
Brenner looked at her.
“It is common to think of women under contract, and female slaves, and such, as girls,” she said.
“Surely you find that grossly demeaning,” he said.
“I like it,” she said.
“Oh?” asked Brenner.
“I find it appropriate, and flattering,” she said. “And surely it is fitting, and obviously so, considering our status.”
“I see,” said Brenner. “It has more to do with status, and such.”
“Yes,” she said, “and with interest, and beauty, and how it is appropriate to relate to us, that sort of thing.”
“Then I shall call you a “girl,”” said Brenner, “that being appropriate for a woman such as you.”
“Exactly,” she smiled.
“You seem submissive, and docile,” he said.
“I am submissive and docile,” she said.
“You did not seem so earlier today,” he said.
“I am now,” she said.
He regarded her.
“You may beat me,” she said. “Implements for that purpose are available in the room.”
Brenner glanced about. To be sure, on the far wall there hung a whip, and a quirt. There also hung, here and there about the room, some other articles, a coil of rope, a pair of linked bracelets, some shackles, a chain and collar, and some thongs. There was a ring set in the far wall, and one in the floor, near the foot of the bed. There was also a bar in evidence, the latter fixed in the lower portion of the stout headboard of the bed, to which he supposed a woman, perhaps by tied, crossed wrists, perhaps on her back or belly, might be fastened.
“I shall consider it,” said Brenner.
She looked at him suddenly, frightened.
He suddenly realized that he could do that, if he wished. He did not think that the zard would object, assuming, of course, that her value was not reduced. Indeed, perhaps a beating might improve her value. Brenner suspected, for example, that the blonde’s value might be considerably increased by something of that sort. In any event, it seemed, at least for most practical purposes, that the zard would not be involved. The matter was primarily between him and the girl, or, as he had gathered from her glance, actually, rather, up to him.
He regarded her.
“You can do with me what you want,” she said, “that is, within reason, as I am a free woman.”
“And if you were a slave?” asked Brenner.
“Then,” she said, looking down, “you could do with me as you want.”
“I see,” said Brenner.
“I was upset!” she said.
He looked at her.
“Earlier you said you forgave me!” she said.
“I may rethink the matter,” said Brenner.
“Do you forgive me?” she asked.
“I have not decided,” he said.
“I see,” she said.
He regarded her. Her curves seemed incredibly delicious to him.
“I was cold, out in the mud, miserable, and barefoot, and I was not looking where I was going,” she said.
Brenner finished the coffee, and put down the cup.
“I should not have lost my temper, of course,” she said. “I realize that.”
“And perhaps you realize it with a special emphasis now,” said Brenner.
“Now that I am here, at your feet, and, as you doubtless must understand, much at your mercy?”