Miss Minerva sounded him on the subject, at my request, for the purpose of course of making my apologies.

He affected not to understand what she meant--with what motive I am sure I don't know.

False and revengeful, you may say, and perhaps you may be right.

But the serious part of it, so far as I am concerned, is my aunt's behaviour to me.

If I had thwarted her in the dearest wish of her life, she could hardly treat me with greater coldness and severity.