“Until you’re a very sorry girl”

A phrase, floating round at random in my mind, as I tried to fix my broken PC a few days back:

“I’m going to beat you until you’re a very sorry girl – and until I’m absolutely sure you won’t do it again.”

What had she done? And who was she? I’m imagining a girl who’d put herself in danger – walking back through the park after dark, perhaps – in wilful breach of some rule or other. And it’d have to be a gentleman who cared for her well-being – or who had a formal duty of care: I’m actually (quite rarely for me) thinking that this might be a father punishing his daughter. With a thick cane, which she’d maybe only felt once before?

I’m pretty sure she’d be sent straight to bed afterwards, too. And perhaps she’d come down to breakfast the following morning in pyjamas and dressing gown, as usual, and would be made to stand by the table whilst he told the other family members of her punishment, and asked whether she had learnt her lesson… Poor thing: I feel rather sorry for her, much as the beating was clearly deserved.