A Tale of Two Choices

Dorothea got to her feet, knowing all eyes were on her. It was all she could do to avoid trembling visibly. The punishments handed out by Fat Brenda were legendary and usually involved a hair brush.

Brenda marched Dorothea from the room and into the entrance hall of the workhouse. As this room was the only room ever seen by visitors it was less dark and depressing than the remainder of the building. There were benches to wait upon and old copies of Punch on walnut side tables.

Brenda bent to Dorothea's ear and whispered