Actually, Amos, a little birching might well do Ms. Penelope's hubby some good. It certainly wouldn't have hurt the late Shame...but then he might have grown to truly enjoy it (if you catch my drift) and have turned into a public school bully.

And Ms. Penelope -- I am quite a good shot with rifle, pistol, and shotgun (I've taken a few grouse in my time, but not in the last few years) and a fair hand with saber, rapier, and small sword. It would never have come to that with the late Shame McBride, sniveling and whining coward that he was.