"May I speak of another subject?" she said. "Aunt Serena, I have been wanting to tell you—I have been waiting for a chance to tell you—that I want to beg your pardon."
Mrs. Busby made no answer; it was her husband who asked, "For what?"
"To-day, sir, and a good while ago when I was here—different times—I spoke to aunt Serena as I ought not; rudely; I was angry. I have been wanting to say so and to beg her pardon."
"Well, that's all anybody can do," said Mr. Busby. "Enough's said about that. It's very proper, if you spoke improperly, to confess it and make an apology; that's all that is necessary. At least, as soon as Mrs. Busby has signified that she accepts the apology."
But Mrs. Busby signified no such thing. She kept silence.
"My dear, do you want Rotha to say anything more? Hasn't she apologized sufficiently?"
"I should like to know first," Mrs. Busby began in constrained tones, "what motive prompted the apology?"
"Motive!—" Mr. Busby began; but Rotha struck in.
"My motive was, that I wanted to do right; and I knew it was right that I should apologize."
"Then your motive was not that you were sorry for what you said?" Mrs.
Busby inquired magisterially.