At any rate, the vote for
whipping carried the day; and even Ruth, trembling and cold,
agreed that it must be done; only she asked, in a meek, sad
voice, if she need be present (Mr. Benson was to be the
executioner--the scene, the study), and, being instantly told
that she had better not, she went slowly and languidly up to her
room, and kneeling down, she closed her ears, and prayed.
Miss Benson, having carried her point, was very sorry for the
child, and would have begged him off; but Mr. Benson had listened
more to her arguments than now to her pleadings, and, only
answered, "If it is right, it shall be done!" He went into the
garden, and deliberately, almost as if he wished to gain time,
chose and cut off a little switch from the laburnum-tree. Then he
returned through the kitchen, and gravely taking the awed and
wondering little fellow by the hand, he led him silently into the
study, and placing him before him, began an admonition on the
importance of truthfulness, meaning to conclude with what he
believed to be the moral of all punishment: "As you cannot
remember this of yourself, I must give you a little pain to make
you remember it. I am sorry it is necessary, and that you cannot
recollect without my doing so."
But before he had reached this very proper and desirable
conclusion, and while he was yet working his way, his heart
aching with the terrified look of the child at the solemnly sad
face and words of upbraiding, Sally burst in--
"And what may ye be going to do with that fine switch I saw ye
gathering, Master Thurstan?" asked she, her eyes gleaming with
anger at the answer she knew must come, if answer she had at all.
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