When she went up to Marielle's room she was very gentle.   
She tested Marielle on her chapter and found she had learnt it
almost perfectly.   It made her feel a little better to know that it
had done some good but, though she gave her friend a
lingering hug, she was too ashamed to let their eyes meet.  
She went to bed after that but sleep would not come.   She felt
as if she was deceiving Marielle who was vulnerable and
younger than she was and the worst thing was, now they had
started and it had worked, she knew it would be impossible to
stop.

In the morning she heard Marielle leave but she didn't get up.  
She had no classes until the afternoon and, having had no
more than a couple of hours sleep, she felt bad.    She
managed to sleep another couple of hours and got up later
feeling a little better.

It was while she was eating her breakfast on the veranda that
she heard a door open and Jenny came around the corner.   
Jenny often came over to chat and usually Juliet loved talking
to her.   Jenny was 28 and had a mass of chestnut hair and a
very sensible view of the world.    She had a strong loving
relationship with her husband and children and really, of all the
people Juliet knew, Jenny was the one she could trust and
confide in.

"Hi, Jenny."  She knew she sounded a little subdued.

"Hi ...   Do you look as if you spent the night in the washing
basket or is it just my eyes?"

"I didn't sleep too well."

"Are you okay?"

Juliet glanced up and didn't quite manage to meet her eyes.

"Yes ... coffee?"

Jenny poured herself some coffee in Juliet's cup.

"You know what I did yesterday?    Forgot to bring the washing
in.   I didn't remember until I was about ready for bed."

Juliet stared at her, a little mystified by this sudden departure in
the conversation.   She was about to go to the kitchen for
another cup when Jenny took her hand to stop her.

"I came out here around ten-thirty ... to take in the washing.    I
know it seems a crazy thing to do in the middle of the night but
... Juliet, I saw you smacking Marielle."

"Saw me?"

Jenny's eyes had a mischievous glimmer and her voice
dropped low.

"I couldn't resist - I heard a sound.   I thought maybe something
was wrong so I peeked in the window and ... oh, boy, you were
certainly not letting her off lightly.   I couldn't take my eyes off
you."

"Did you see afterwards?"   Juliet's voice was full of dismay.  
She hadn't intended to ask that but the question was out before
she could stop herself.

"No, Honey, I watched until she ran out and then ... Julie,
what's wrong?"

"Oh, Jenny, I'm so ashamed."

Jenny was shocked to see her young landlady's face running
with tears.   She immediately sat beside her and held her for a
moment.

"It's okay.   What you did is okay.    I know you've been worried
about her getting through.   Sometimes when there's no other
way you just have to do something drastic.    Did it help her?"

"Yes," sobbed Juliet.

"Well, then, no problem."

She tilted Juliet's face and kissed her but Juliet only dissolved
into tears again.    Jenny held her until she calmed a little.

"Oh, Jenny, it's so shameful.   I spanked her but I got so
excited.   And now I feel so wicked.    When she left I ... I ... "

"Well, that's okay too.    You did it for her good.   If helping her
gave you pleasure  it's ..."

""I can't live with it.   I feel so guilty and I don't know what to do.  
She'll expect me to do it again and I'm afraid I'll want to."

Jenny thought for a moment while Juliet sobbed quietly.

"If what you're doing is helping get Marielle through her exams
and teaching her to study then ... I think you ought to keep
doing it."

Juliet wept and shook her head in despair.

"But Juliet ... "Jenny's voice was taking on a firmness that
hadn't been there before.    "There is no point in this destroying
you in the process.    Maybe I have a solution."

Juliet looked up with sudden hope in her eyes.    She trusted
Jenny.  With two daughters of her own Jenny would know what
to do if anyone would.

"What have you got on under that nightdress?"

"My ... my panties."

"Get them off, right now.   And take these dishes to the kitchen.  
By the time I get back I want to see you over this table with
your bare bottom facing the sky.   D'you hear me?"

"Yes," Juliet stammered but Jenny had already departed.

For a moment she simply stared in amazement at the spot
where Jenny had disappeared then suddenly she realised she
could reappear again at any moment.    In panic she turned to
look at the mess on the table while at the same time pulling up
her nightdress.  Without a moment's thought she almost leapt
out of her panties, throwing them on a chair, and rushed to pile
the dishes in the kitchen.   When the table was clear she
hesitated for a moment, biting her lip.    She couldn't hear
Jenny coming back.   How was she to lie on this table?    She
had never had to do this before.    She tried it experimentally
and her blond hair fell all over her face.    What was she doing?   
It felt childish and ridiculous.     Just then she heard footsteps.   
Immediately she cleared her hair out of her face and turned to
look.    She had done what she was told and she wanted to be
brave but when she saw what Jenny was carrying she turned
away in shock.

"What are you going to do?" she asked tremulously, even
though she knew it was a foolish question.     The answer was
obvious.    Jenny's voice settled around her like falling leaves.

"I was going to give you eight strokes with the hairbrush, Juliet.   
But since you have chosen to defy me ... "

Juliet blushed deep red.   It was exactly how Jenny spoke to
her children when she was going to punish them.    How
humiliating to have deserved the same treatment even though
she was grown up.    She could feel herself wanting to cry,

"... it will have to be ten.    I said 'bare bottom', Juliet.    Plainly
this spanking is long overdue."

Juliet quickly picked up her nightdress even though she knew
she was too late.

"Furthermore every time you spank Marielle with such wicked
feelings you will come to me and we will repeat your
punishment.    Is that understood?"

"Yes," whispered Juliet fearfully.

"Bottom higher, Juliet.    That's the way."

Juliet tried hard to make her bottom round for Jenny even going
up on her tiptoes.    Suddenly with a huge clap the hairbrush
descended on her left buttock.    She suppressed the sound
she so urgently wanted to make but the second stroke on the
other buttock brought tears to her eyes.   Jenny was
determined not to spare this young woman now she had taken
her discipline on.    If it was not a thorough spanking she would
go on feeling guilty and nothing would have been gained.   
She raised the brush again and applied a stinging smack to the
top of Juliet's thigh.    She repeated this twice more and then
concentrated on setting the girl's lower buttocks on fire.

Juliet was trying desperately not to cry out.   She knew she
deserved to be punished and she didn't want to do anything to
inhibit Jenny.   But it hurt so much and all her efforts still
couldn't prevent little stiffled yelps escaping.   Every time she
thought a place couldn't possibly sting anymore Jenny would
smack it again and prove that it could.   She wanted to cry and
plead.   She could feel she was lifting her feet off the floor and
wriggling hopelessly but Jenny was not to be placated and the
last strokes actually stung the worst of all.

When it was all over Juliet still held herself in check.   She
wanted to thank Jenny and go to her room where she could cry
in private but as soon as she stood up she found she couldn't
hold herself together any longer.     Her face crumpled; eyes
flooding over with tears.    Her hands flew to her flaming bottom
and with a cry she ran to Jenny who took the weeping girl in
her arms and held her, stroking her hair and kissing her over
and over again.

"And remember," Jenny said softly.   "Anytime you feel you
need to be punished ..."

"Yes ... " sobbed Juliet.

>From that time on Marielle's work improved measurably.    She
got high marks for her assignments but Juliet knew that it was
the major exams at the end of the year that would be important.   
If she could pass those maybe it would give her the confidence
she needed to work on her own next year and from there she
would never look back.    Of course if she failed ...

At first it wasn't so easy for her.    Juliet would hold off as long
as possible but then five or six times in the first two months she
just had to intervene.   She just couldn't bear to see Marielle
throw her chances away when all it needed was a well-
smacked bottom to help her along.   In her turn Juliet twice
found herself in next door's kitchen begging for the sting of
Jenny's hairbrush to take away her shameful feelings.    The
first time it had been because the accumulated guilty pleasure
of several spankings of Marielle had been more than she could
live with and the second was shortly afterwards when she had
finally made her recalcitrant student  take down her knickers -
the thrill of spanking her bare bottom was so intense she had
almost come on the spot.

Eventually though it began to work.   Marielle needed less and
less attention to maintain her momentum.     As the end of the
semester approached it seemed as though she was all set to
do well.    For that reason it was pretty surprising to Juliet when
she got a call from Sally, one of Marielle's classmates, to tell
her that her wayward friend had not been to classes for two
days.

"I can't understand it," Sally said.   "She was doing so well
recently and now she's gone off just as we were getting to the
important part."

Juliet was devastated.

"She told me you've helped a lot - I didn't know who to call."

"Thanks, Sally.    I'll talk to her."

Juliet went straight round to Jenny, her mind in turmoil.   She
felt like giving up.

"What's the point?    I've got my own work to do.  It's not fair,
Jenny.   How can she do this?"

"I think maybe it's nerves.   The exams coming up.   She knows
how much you've put into it.   She's afraid of failing you."

"Oh, no ... Do you think it's me?   I've put her under too much
pressure."

"I didn't say that.   You had no choice.   She'd have got
nowhere if you hadn't."

"But what can I do now?    I've tried everything I can think of."

"Well, maybe you haven't.   Maybe there's something she
should know."

Juliet stared at her in horrified fascination.

"What do you mean?" she breathed.

When Marielle arrived home she found Juliet and Jenny
waiting for her in the sitting room.   Juliet looked pale and quite
tense.    She sat on a high-backed chair by the table while
Jenny sat back on the sofa.

"I got a call from school ... "

She paused to let her words sink in.

"... That was so stupid, Marielle."

The bright smile died on the young woman's lips and she
glanced nervously at Jenny.    She knew she'd have to face
Juliet sooner or later but having Jenny there felt really
awkward.

"Well ... I ..."

"I've tried so hard to help you - you know I have.   I've put my
own work in jeopardy.   How could you do this?"

"I ... I'm sorry.   I don't think I can do the exam."

"Well, girl, you're damn well going to try.   And what's more ...
you know you're going to be punished.   You might as well ..."

Marielle's mouth fell open.   Mortified, she glanced at Jenny.

"Not here," she mumbled.   "Not in front of ..."

Juliet silenced her with a look that was as much desperation as
anger.   Then she glanced nervously back at Jenny too.

"You don't understand," she said.    "You've got us both in
terrible trouble."

"Both!"   Marielle's amazement was almost painful.

"That's enough!"    Jenny's voice was commanding.    "Over to
the wall - both of you.    And get those skirts off - now!"

"Juliet, I don't understand.  What's this about?"

"Do as you're told," hissed Juliet.   "This is all your fault and
now I'm going to be punished because of you."

"What the hell ...?" began Marielle but she saw that Juliet had
already begun to unfasten her skirt and she knew from the
expression on Jenny's face that dawdling wouldn't pay.

She stripped off her sparkly pink mini-skirt.   It left her in only
the scimpiest panties.  She tried to cover herself with her hands
as she skipped off to join Juliet who was already facing the wall
with tears rolling down her cheeks.   

"I don't get it."

"Oh, you don't get it?" growled Jenny, coming up behind her.  
"Well, you're going to get it now.    Bend over - both of you.  
Touch your toes."

Side by side the girls obeyed her but still Marielle couldn't
contain her amazement.   

"Juliet," she whispered.   "I don't understand."

"I never wanted to punish you - I just had to.   It made me feel
so bad I couldn't sleep and the only way I could carry on was
getting Jenny to do the same to me .... and ... oh, she spanks
much worse."

Marielle glanced behind her in terror.   Jenny was holding a
long cane which she whisked through the air a few times.

"That's how much she cares about you," said Jenny, and her
voice was low and threatening.    "And how much do you care
about her - not even enough to stay around and try?"

Suddenly Marielle burst into tears.

"I'm so sorry," she wailed.  "Juliet, I didn't know."

"Well, you're going to know," snapped Jenny, moving in close.  
"Six strokes of the cane should give you some idea."

She lined up the curving rattan across Juliet's white satin
knickers.   Marielle stared at it in horror.   She couldn't!   Juliet
had been so kind and loving.

"Please don't spank her," she sobbed.    "Jenny, please, it's not
her fault.  It's mine.   Spank me.   Please!   Just spank me."

"You should have thought of that before, Marielle.   Now it's too
late."

With that Jenny drew back her hand and in quick succession
gave Juliet three stinging strokes across the middle of her
bottom.   She knew the cane would be a shock but that was all
to the good.   Her squealing and crying would maximise the
effect on Marielle and already she could see the nervous
glances as Juliet, feeling the full effects of the burning stripes
across her buttocks, bobbed up and down in agitation.   With
the next three she would have her dancing in pain and Marielle
would know it was her turn next.   They had agreed it was the
only way to make Marielle see sense and, even though she
was scared of being caned, Juliet had said she would accept it
gladly  if it would help her friend to succeed.

Jenny lifted the cane again and with a great swishing sound it
cut wickedly across the tops of Juliet's thighs.

"Aaaah!"    Her cry resounded through the room and she leapt
up, her hands flying to her agonised flesh.   The first three had
been a shock but the fourth was much worse.   For a moment
she did dance up and down and then taking a deep sobbing
breath she slowly bent over again.   Jenny could see how hard
it was for her to control herself and stay in place when her
whole being wanted to run away.    She looked again at
Marielle who, though she was still bent over holding her ankles,
was wracked with sobs and seemed ready to collapse.

Jenny knew she had achieved all she needed and she made
the last two strokes quick.   Juliet still screamed when she felt
the cane red-hot across her lower buttocks but the truth was
they were far lighter strokes than the others had been.

As soon as they were done, Juliet turned to look at her friend.  
She couldn't help crying.   She was crying freely like a child
and her bottom hurt so much she could hardly bring herself to
touch it even though she urgently wanted to. 
Marielle, half-blinded by her own tears, put out a hand to stroke
her cheek and suddenly the two girls were in each others arms,
holding each other close and crying together.   Jenny let them
go for a few moments until she could see they were becoming
calmer.

"Marielle," she said quietly.

The young woman turned to look at her with big frightened
eyes.

"Are you ready now?"

"Yes ... yes!" she cried out and immediately bent down again
with her hands almost flat on the floor.

As Jenny moved behind her she half-rose again and
impulsively pulled her panties down to her ankles.

"Like this, Jenny.   Please," she pleaded.   "I know I've
deserved it."

Jenny gently laid the cane across her buttocks.

"Marielle, do you feel the cane on your skin?"

"Yes."

There was silence for a moment then, in a halting voice, Juliet
spoke to her.

"D'you ... think you should be ... spanked?"

"Yes."

"For me?"

"Yes ... and for what I did.   Please, Juliet.    Please!"

Juliet sobbed quietly for a moment then she turned away. 
   
"Marielle, you have studying to do."

Jenny lowered the cane and turned away too.

"What!   What d'you mean?  You can't just leave me.   Please!"

Juliet turned back to look at her friend.

"I love you so much, but I can't help you anymore unless you
help yourself."

"Spank me!"

"When you pass your exam, Marielle, then I will spank you 'til
you scream.   Believe me I want to right now more than
anything I can think of.   You know you deserve it but if you
don't pass that exam you can forget it.    Now go up to your
room and study."

Crying and hopeless, Marielle picked up her discarded skirt
and panties and dragged them miserably out of the room.

"Do you think it'll work?"  asked Jenny, when the door had
closed and Marielle's heavy footsteps had died away.

"I really, really hope so," Juliet said.   She picked up the cane
and flexed it thoughtfully in her hand.    "Otherwise ... who will I
find to try this out on?"

Something in her tone made Jenny glance up in alarm.   Juliet
was looking at her with a wicked smile just beginning to dance
in her big watery eyes.

A few weeks later there was a little party at Longheath - just
three girls, some champagne, a hairbrush and a long flexible
cane.    Everyone else was out that evening - which was just as
well because they made a lot of noise.