`` Yes , I know , father . '' `` I -- I must whip you . '' Carl winced . He had never been whipped . Then , seeing how badly his father felt , he said cheerfully , `` All right , father . '' Mr. Meredith misunderstood his cheerfulness and thought him insensible . He told Carl to come to the study after supper , and when the boy had gone out he flung himself into his chair and groaned again . He dreaded the evening sevenfold more than Carl did . The poor minister did not even know what he should whip his boy with . What was used to whip boys ? Rods ? Canes ? No , that would be too brutal . A timber switch , then ? And he , John Meredith , must hie him to the woods and cut one . It was an abominable thought . Then a picture presented itself unbidden to his mind . He saw Mrs. Carr 's wizened , nut-cracker little face at the appearance of that reviving eel -- he saw her sailing witch-like over the buggy wheels . Before he could prevent himself the minister laughed . Then he was angry with himself and angrier still with Carl .
He would get that switch XXXXX once -- and it must not be too limber , after all .
Before Meredith at evening of over right than to with