I do a good headmaster, when I’m punishing a girl. So after the first four strokes, I roared, “I can’t believe I have to do this again! When will you learn to behave?”

There was a pause, while Arethusa composed herself. She sniffed and swallowed, then said, “I bet you hope, I never do.”

Reader, I kissed that girl. But cane stripes look like kisses, too. I picked up the cane again.