“I didn't expect to find you, dearest Rose,” he replied, in a penitential tone, that touched all the listeners except the one it was meant to move. “I came to see your mother.”
“Why do you address me as 'dearest Rose?'” said the young damsel, rather severely.
“You are still dear to me, and must ever remain so,” he replied. “I confess I have behaved very badly.”
“Well, the poor fellow can't say more,” said Emmeline, moved by his looks and manner. “I hope you will forgive him.”
“Do,” added Mildred.
Netterville awaited his sentence with anxiety; but Rose did not seem inclined to pardon him at once.
“You have acted so unreasonably that I cannot forgive you till you have made some amends,” she said.
“I am ready to do anything you may enjoin,” he replied.
“You shall deliver me from the annoyance to which I have been subjected, and which has caused our disagreement,” she replied. “You shall find out the writer of that anonymous letter to yourself, and who has likewise written other infamous letters to me, and punish him—punish him as he deserves. When you have done this, I will forgive you, but not till then.”
“We quite approve of your decision, Rose,” said Mildred, “and till Mr. Netterville has done this he doesn't deserve your regard. He ought not to hesitate.”