“Why not?”
“Of course he is very angry with me.”
“More angry with himself for having struck you, I expect.”
“Oh, if I thought so, I would go at once and ask him to forgive me for knocking his house down, and for having struck him,” Edward said, his eyes filling with tears.
“That ought not to be your reason for asking his forgiveness, Edward.”
“Why not, father?”
“You should go to him and ask his forgiveness because you are conscious of having injured him. You ought not to think anything about what he may think or feel, but go to him and confess your wrong, simply because you have acted wrong.”
“But how do I know that he will take it kindly?”
“That you must not think of, my boy. Think only of the fact you have injured James, and that simple justice requires of you to repair that injury in the best way you can. Surely, the least you can now do is to go to him, and tell him that you are sorry for what you have done.”