It's very hard for a schoolgirl to concentrate on what is being said. It's daunting enough to be sat in the headmaster's office in front of his imposing desk while he delivers a lengthy ticking off for her poor behaviour. It's made ten times worse by the careful positioning of his tub of implements and she just knows that in a few moments one of those at least will be applied to her bottom with considerable force. She has to try to concentrate on what he's saying because if she fails to answer a question promptly, correctly, and courteously, it might make him select one of the more severe options. It won't be the first time that Molly has been in this particular situation but her past experience doesn't make the present any easier.
