Arthur stood up, unlocked the door and left, without a glance behind him. Stoker unstrapped Eleanor from the frame and put her on the floor, on her knees. Holding the chain that attached to her collar, he led her crawling back up the passage to her cell. Throwing the chain down on the floor, pausing only to take off her gag, Stoker went out, careful to lock her cell door behind him.
Grateful that at least the gag was finally off, Eleanor drank deep from the jug of water beside her bed. She was beyond crying now, though her face was stained with tears. She lay on the bed. She wanted desperately to put her hand between her legs for comfort, but they had kept her strait-jacket on. She passed a miserable, uncomfortable night, lying on her side since the pain on her bottom was still great, and
