Twelve o'clock
Upton and Eric immediately stood up . Dr. Rowlands looked surprised , and there was an expression of grieved interest in Mr. Rose 's face . `` Very well , '' said the Doctor , `` I shall speak to you both privately . '' Twelve o'clock came , and Duncan and Eric received a severe caning . Corporal punishment , however necessary and desirable for some dispositions , always produced on Eric the worst effects . He burned , not with remorse or regret , but with shame and violent indignation , and listened , with a glare in his eye , to Dr. Rowlands ' warnings . When the flogging was over , he almost rushed out of the room , to choke in solitude his sense of humiliation , nor would he suffer any one for an instant to allude to his disgrace .