"Well,—ill-will."
"Ill-will—I do not think I wish any harm to her," said Rotha slowly; "but I do not forgive her."
"What do you want to do to her?"
"I do not know. I should like to make her feel ashamed of herself—if I knew how."
"I do not think that lies in your power, my dear; and I would not try. That is a sort of revenge-taking; and all sorts of revenge-taking are forbidden to us. 'Vengeance is mine,' saith the Lord."
"I do not mean vengeance," said Rotha. "I mean, just punishment—a little bit."
"That is the meaning of the word 'vengeance' in that place;—just punishment; but in your heart, Rotha, it is revenge. Put it away, my dear. It is not the spirit of Christ. You must forgive, if you would be forgiven."
"I do not know how," said Rotha, low and steadily.
"See how Jesus did. When they were nailing him to the cross, he said,
'Father, forgive them.'"
"Yes, but he said too, Mrs. Mowbray,—'they know not what they do.'"