Miss Edwards held up a finger, saying,<em>Wait</em>. For some lessons she preferred her pupils to keep performing despite pain or other distractions. But Annalisa had been given a sufficient challenge already.<br/><br/>"Let's call it five strokes with the crop for each stammered word," Miss Edwards said briskly. "I may increase the number if I do not feel you are trying your hardest." She doubted that this would be a problem, as Annalisa had always taken their lessons very seriously. "Stand with your legs farther apart, please." She walked behind Annalisa without waiting for her to obey; if the girl did not do as she was told quickly enough, she would suffer more pain. Everything was a lesson.<br/><br/>Miss Edwards tapped the crop against the servant's left inner thigh, gently, to warn what was coming. Smack! The crop swung sideways, first on one thigh, then the other. The first eight blows came down firmly but not cruelly, preparing the girl's pale, tender skin for the two that would count. Miss Edwards paused a moment, then brought the crop down hard for the last two blows. The crop whistled through the air before landing on Annalisa's soft flesh with a sharp crack, once on each inner thigh, as hard as the leather crop could hit. Miss Edwards nodded to herself in satisfaction at seeing the flesh redden like a rose petal at her harsh treatment.<br/><br/>The teacher returned to her position by her desk. "Annalisa, your manners and knowledge<em>have</em>been greatly improved. Have, not has. You must remember your subject-verb agreement at all times." She lashed out with the crop, this time striking the servant on the left breast. "Similarly, your learning<em>is</em>vastly improving... I do not know where you got 'they are.'" Crack! The right breast got a matching blow. "Finally, your education with Mr. Benedict has not been going 'excellent.'" She allowed a touch of irritation to enter her voice. "It is an adverb, you silly girl. Excellent-<em>ly</em>." The crop whistled down again, once on each breast, across the buds of her nipples.<br/><br/>"We will now continue," Miss Edwards said, seating herself elegantly. She adopted the more casual tone suitable to their fictional conversation. "You have never told me much about your family, my dear. What do they do for work?" Miss Edwards added, "You may invent relations if you wish, but you must describe them well." She had raised the stakes on the girl; when talking about lower class people, would she be able to avoid lower class language? Miss Edwards was interested to see.