"Now," Bernard stopped for a moment as Sadie's bottom was almost as dark as Marilyn's. "I know very well, Sadie, that you were the one who thought this ridiculous idea up." There was no point in denying it, as it was true. "Because you are the one who started all of this, and after multiple attempts for me to stop your nonsense, I'm going to have to take a harder measure."

And their guardian picked up the hairbrush he'd set back onto the desk and brought it down hard.

"No! Please, Mr. Lawrence!" she begged. And then, the hairbrush came down on her poor bottom. The pain was so intense, and she knew there would be many more to come. With that, she burst into tears. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, please..!"

To what little credit the girls gave him, Bernard - once he could tell the girls were truly repentant (in Sadie's case, crying) - only gave her about fifteen more swats of the hairbrush before putting the implement back onto the desk. "There. Now I expect the both of you shall obey me from now on?"

"Yes, s-sir...!" Marilyn cried from her corner, having successfully NOT rubbed her bottom, though it stung greatly.

Sadie responded in the affirmative, but it was inaudible through her sobs. Even though he had finished spanking her, she put her legs up, her heels almost touching her bottom in a pathetic attempt to protect it from any more spanks as she continued to plead for forgiveness. Sadie was embarrassed at the fact that she was crying so hard, but the brush always made her do so.

"It's okay, little Sadie," Bernard said, putting her legs down as he used her childhood nickname. "You are no longer in trouble for sneaking out." And he helped her gently to her feet and called for Marilyn to come out of her corner, which she did immediately.

"You two will not sneak out again, understand?"

Marilyn nodded and rubbed at her face, feeling all of seven than nineteen.

Sadie covered her face with her arm as she cried, clutching her dress with her other hand. "Yes, Mr. Lawrence, we won't ever sneak out again!" Her bottom was on fire, and she didn't even bother to pull her panties up, as it would hurt to have fabric rub against her poor bottom.

Bernard gave a small nod, then urged both girls into an embrace. He didn't look like someone who was much of a cuddler, and he normally wasn't (though he did kiss both girls on the head in good morning and gave them hugs goodnight when they were littler), but he knew how important such an act was after being disciplined so thoroughly.

Stroking Marilyn's hair and rubbing at Sadie's back a bit as both girls clutched onto him, he said softly, "You two unfortunately still have to answer for your lying, but that shall wait until after you both change into your nightgowns and have your supper."

"I-I don't w-want a spankin' a-again..." Marilyn said softly.

"I know you don't, but you two know much better than to lie to me."

Sadie didn't respond, but simply nodded.

They had their supper, which was mostly silent save for their sniffling. They squirmed on their chairs, as Bernard didn't allow them to sit on pillows until the next day if their bottoms were still sore.

When they were finished, Bernard dabbed his mouth with a napkin and said, "Alright, you two. Upstairs to your room to get ready for bed. In awhile I'll be up to give you your bedtime spankings."

Marilyn nodded sadly and, after politely excusing herself, headed back upstairs to the bedroom she and Sadie shared. (They had switched through five different rooms as bedrooms as they grew up, but they continually and happily always shared one.)

She switched into her nightgown as she heard Sadie come up after her, and she sniffled a bit as the silk brushed against her bottom, and she couldn't help moving her hands back and rubbing. "Sadie...? I-I'm sorry for now being fast enough to get out the window..."

Sadie entered the room and shut the door, sighing as she began to change in her pajamas. She preferred to wear pajama bottoms when she slept, and Bernard didn't mind as the pants were long, and only for sleeping.

"Marilyn, please don't...I feel terrible because it was all my idea. And our lie is getting us punished again. She flopped down on her rather large bed and buried her face in her pillow. "I'm so stupid."