"You've said enough to please Rotha!" Antoinette sobbed. "And it is unnecessary to be constantly comparing your daughter with some one else," said Mrs. Busby. "Can't we talk of some other subject, more useful and agreeable?" Then Rotha summoned up her courage, with her heart beating. "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. Rotha was so astonished at this way of receiving her words that she hesitated. "I am sorry, certainly, that I should have spoken rudely," she said. "But not sorry for what you said?" "You are splitting hairs, my dear!" said Mr. Busby impatiently. "Let her answer--" said his wife. "I do not know how to answer," said Rotha slowly, and thinking how to choose her words. "I am sorry for my ill-manners and unbecoming behaviour; I beg pardon for that. Is there anything else to ask pardon for?" "You do not answer." "What else can I say?" Rotha returned with some spirit. "I am not apologizing for thoughts or feelings, but for my improper behaviour. Shall I not be forgiven?" "Then your _feeling_ is not changed?" said the lady with a sharp look at her. Rotha thought, It would be difficult for her feeling to change, under the reigning system. She did not answer. "Pish, pish, my dear!" said the master of the house,--"you are splitting straws. When an apology is made, you have nothing to do but to take it. Rotha has done her part; now you do yours. Has Santa Claus come your way this year, Rotha?" "Yes, sir." "What did he bring you, hey?" "Mrs. Mowbray gave me a Bible." "A Bible!" Mrs. Busby and her daughter both exclaimed at once; "you said a bag?" "I said true," said Rotha. "She gave you a Bible and a bag too?" "Yes." "What utter extravagance! Had you no Bible already?" "I had one, but an old one that had no references."