She looked at me imploringly for a moment, trembling in every limb, then averted her eyes, but remained silent, evidently torn by conflicting emotions.
‘Come, Alice,’ I said presently, ‘I must have your decision, or I shall proceed to take your clothes off you as best as I can.’
Alice was now in a terrible state of distress! Her eyes wandered all over the room without seeming to see anything, incoherent murmurs escaped from her lips, as if she was trying to speak but could not, her breath went and came, her bosom rose and fell agitatedly. She was endeavouring to form some decision evidently, but unable to do so.
I remained still for a brief space as if awaiting her answer; then, as she did not speak, I quietly went to a drawer, took out a pair of scissors and went back to her. At the sight of the scissors, she shivered, then with an effort, said, in a voice broken with emotion: ‘Don’t… undress me Jack!… if you must… have me, let it be as I am… I will… submit quietly… oh! my God!!’ she wailed.
‘That won’t do, dear,’ I replied, not unkindly, but still firmly, ‘you must be naked, Alice; now, will you or will you not undress yourself?’
Alice shuddered, cast another imploring glance at me, but seeing no answering gleam of pity in my eyes but stern determination instead, she stammered out: ‘Oh! Jack! I can’t!! have some pity on me, Jack, and… have me as I am! I promise I’ll be… quiet!’
I shook my head. I saw there was only one thing for me to do, namely, to undress her without any further delay; and I set to work to do so, Alice crying piteously: ‘Don’t Jack, don’t!… don’t!’