i lay there dismally calculating that sixteen entire hours must elapse before i could hope for a resurrection. sixteen hours in bed! the small of my back ached to think of it. and it was so light too; the sun shining in at the window, and a great rattling of coaches in the streets, and the sound of gay voices all over the house. i felt worse and worse—at last i got up, dressed, and softly going down in my stockinged feet, sought out my stepmother, and suddenly threw myself at her feet, beseeching her as a particular favour to give me a good slippering for my misbehaviour; anything indeed but condemning me to lie abed such an unendurable length of time. but she was the best and most conscientious of stepmothers, and back i had to go to my room. for several hours i lay there broad awake, feeling a great deal worse than i have ever done since, even from the greatest subsequent misfortunes.