It's been a stepwise progression - always has - and with each step the outside world seems to have become further away. Toilet use, but with the door left open: the use of a comode by the bed: bedpan use, with the curtains drawn around the bed: bedpan use with the nurse hovering close by: bedpan use under close scrutiny... She's done her best to preserve her independence throughout of course - and suffered for it. She's tried to run away ('absconding', they call it). And now this!
The choice is stark: She can use the toilet - under strict close supervision of course - and accept six with the plaited riding crop - or succumb to the cooing encouraging voice of the therapist and let the woman lead her lovingly deeper into institutional care, one step nearer to the straight jacket...