"He may be a witness to the young lady's caning, or, he might be interrogating her. Asking the questions to find out who is responsible for the latest infraction of the rules. She herself is not the guilty one, and he knows this. However he is also aware that she knows who the guilty party is. He actually likes her, and does not want to make her suffer, but he must make her tell. Mrs. Strictland who is zealously applying the strokes is not so nice, and she will whip her as long as necessary."