What would be best would be for Reuben to requisition a time-turner, go back twenty-four hours, and lock his former self in a broom closet so as to avoid the whole mess, but Aldous was quite aware that this was unlikely to happen.

Besides, his brother would probably make a ruinous mess of the past, too.

"The best you can do," Aldous answered bluntly, "is to untie the knots you've gotten yourself tangled up in—now, before this cannot be undone." Not only for Ben, but for Miss Finch, this was the best course. She would surely lose her family over this, not merely her reputation. And family, in Aldous' book, was paramount—why else would he even be having this conversation?