You must understand that she...." My aunt stiffened and froze.

It was as if I had committed some flagrant sin against etiquette.
"If I am satisfied as to her behaviour," she said, "I think that you might be." She paused as if she were satisfied that she had set me hopelessly in the wrong.
"I don't withdraw my invitation," she said.

"You must understand I _wish_ you to come here.

But your quarrels you and she must settle.

On those terms...." She had the air of conferring an immense favour, as if she believed that I had, all my life through, been waiting for her invitation to come within the pale.