The Key: Part Three

From the Diary of Ophelia Thistlewaite, September 1897

6 Sept. I must write this while it is fresh — I suspect there will be more later, perhaps even within an hour or two. The time is now 9:00am. I awoke to find a letter from my hostess slid under my door, which elaborated on some of the hints I’d been given about her establishment. The “exercise” my Jed was engaged in yesterday — and will continue to be engaged in, but only if I wish it — was a type of endurance test, apparently of the reproductive variety. The letter explained, among other things, about the production of the male seed and how it can be utilized to funnel a man’s energy in more productive ways if it is kept rather than expelled. My madame hostess briefly outlined the stimulus required to keep a man energized thus, and has promised to teach me how to do this. She has a staff — schooled women, not just Matthew (I really am not sure that he is a butler, as my hostess seems much more intimate with him than one would be with a butler — I can’t explain it, exactly, but he is her servant in some way — it’s just that I don’t think he’s a butler) and the groundsmen… It is much to take in. I must find Jed and hear from him of this “exercise.”

11:30am. Jedediah flushed red when I stole a private moment to speak with him and asked how his “exercise” was. He mumbled at first, something about thinking he was dreaming, that it couldn’t possibly have been real, and that perhaps we should make our excuses and leave this place. I don’t want to leave, though — such an exciting thing, to ponder the up-cycling of my Jed’s energy! (and I am assured that this energy will be exerted in ways quite pleasing to me, rather than to only drive him to further work in his dreary office with his cousin Jeremy) — and with a bit of stuttering, he related to me that his body had been put to a certain kind of endurance test at the hands of two nurses. I was unaware of there being any nurses here, but I didn’t contradict him. He said he awoke in the early hours, sure he must be dreaming, but that when he breakfasted with the other gentlemen, Matthew asked them all if they wished for more exercise today, and that by the blushing and stammering of his fellow male guests, he knew they had experienced something similar to him. I’ve asked him to forego exercise today and to allow me to think more on it, that I’ve had a letter from our hostess and that I feel it might be good in some way for our future marriage. He looked flushed at that but acquiesced to my request. I must think on this. Perhaps there will be more at lunch time.

2:00pm. Ms Parsin presented we ladies with cucumbers today at luncheon. They were not sliced and salted, but rather they were whole — dark green, and oblong. After asking whether we’d each received her letter — we all had — she requested we take our gloves off and explained that the cucumbers were to be used as teaching tools. “To give you an idea,” she explained, “of the technique you will learn if you wish.” Never have I found a vegetable so sensually stimulating before! And to imagine, my sweet Jed’s anatomy is shaped thus. And it will respond — !!!

3:30pm. I have seen Jed. Without going into detail, I briefly outlined the cucumber exercise. (Cucumbers! Of all things!) He flushed again, but when I mentioned that it was part of what I was to learn here on this couple’s retreat — to be used together with him in our coming marriage — he was speechless. Minimally, I got from him that Matthew had started with the men in a similar food exercise. Something about eating a sliced-open orange from the center. I fail to see what this mouth-juicing would do for our marriage, but it seems it would certainly improve the muscles of the tongue. I asked if his face got messy and his “yes” was so quiet, yet forcefully delighted, that it was my turn to be speechless. Whatever can it mean?

5:00pm. Tonight we are to dance. I must dress.

11:45pm. I have discerned that Matthew is, indeed, Ms Parsin’s servant. But not in the traditional way. He is utterly devoted to her. They danced together — !!! The waltz, no less — !!!!! He is not in her employ; of that, I am sure. But her servant, he is. She caught me watching them and pulled me aside for a moment to say, “Jedediah shall dance attendance on you just like my Matthew does on me.” Then she winked and walked away. I am intrigued. ?? Cucumbers, oranges, dancing with the servants… My mind is full of questions. I must speak to Jed. We will stay, I think. There is much I do not know and I am entirely too curious for words! My Jed seems reluctant to discuss his experience in the Exercise Room with finer detail, but I shall persevere in my quest for knowing. I will find out more about this “exercise” as soon as possible. I do believe we should — and will, soonest possible! — be “exercising” together. Togetherness in this endeavor, that is the key.