“Has this ever occurred to you before,” asked the doctor.
“Yes, sir, yesterday, when my cousin was caressing it in her mouth,” replied the frightened youth, “but I really don’t know how it happened, and did not mean any harm.”
“Oh, indeed!” said the doctor, “your mother did not mention that, did she see you?”
“No, sir, it happened just as she was coming through the shrubbery, and was all over before she reached the arbour.”
“And so your cousin took it into her mouth, why did she do that?”
“She was curious to see what was under the skin of its head, and finding it would not go back without hurting me, she put it into her mouth to wet it and make it go back easier, which it did for the first time; she pulled it forward again, and again put it into her mouth to push the skin back with her lips, when I felt funny all over, and something came out of me into her mouth.”
“Indeed! Well, you must tell me all about that another time. This flogging will be enough for the present, but I shall punish you for your nastiness some other time. Put up your trousers, in a day or two I shall want you in this room to pay for your dirty conduct.”
The poor boy retired, sobbing hysterically.
The second day after this the doctor sent for Master Dale, who, in the meantime, had occupied the bedroom next to mine. The doctor was in his private room in his dressing-gown, long and flowing, so that for the moment it concealed the fact that he had nothing but his shirt on below it. He received Master Dale somewhat sternly, saying—
“Now, sir, for your punishment for your last nasty misconduct.”