“By the time I got to the Tower Room I was actually crying-not from fear, from humiliation. To be given such an order in front of my cousin was the worst moment of my life thus far. But then I remembered I was angry, too, and that helped me stop crying. I dried my eyes on my sleeve and then, slowly, began to undo my braces.

So I was going to get the cane again, this time on my bare bottom, and for something I hadn't done-at least, not on purpose. I won't deny that, once the deed was done, there had been a moment's wild pleasure in contemplating the result-but then, when she started to create, I knew there were going to be Consequences. But I had not foreseen-and did not deserve-anything so humiliating.

I remembered how the cane had stung last time and shivered, standing there in the Tower Room in my shirt-tails. I had placed my trousers, braces still attached, on one of the chairs. Hoping against hope, I had observed Eleanor's order to the letter and retained my underpants.”