"Is there any possible reason why aunt Serena, and Mr. Busby and Antoinette, should be asked to come to Southwode? If there is any reason for it, I have no more to say; but I do not see the reason."
"She is your mother's sister—" Mrs. Mowbray repeated.
"And that fact it is, which puts her so far from me. Just that fact."
"Maybe it will do her good," suggested Mrs. Mowbray.
Rotha laughed a short, impatient laugh. "How should it?" she asked.
"You never can tell how. My dear, it is not good to have breaches in families. Always heal them up, if you can."
Rotha turned in despair to Mr. Southwode.
"Mrs. Mowbray is right, in principle," he said. "I entirely agree with her. The only question is, whether a breach which remains a breach by the will of the offending party alone, ought to be covered over and condoned by the action of the injured party."
"You must forgive,—" said Mrs. Mowbray.
"Yes; and forgiveness implies a readiness to have the breach bridged over and forgotten. I think it does not command or advise that the offender be treated as if he had repented, so long as he does not repent."