'Impossible! The girl must have been jesting with you.' 'I do not think so,' said Allan, both sadly and bitterly as he thought of the bangle and many other circumstances, the inevitable 'trifles light as air.' 'Well, you are bound to renew your proposal.' 'I do not think so, nor shall I again, unless some change comes over her.' 'If I exert my authority as guardian and trustee----' 'She may run away. Olive is a proud and restless girl with a defiant spirit, though she has a very affectionate heart.' 'But you cannot expect that she is to propose to _you_.' 'I do love her, father--love her dearly; but fear that she views me too much as a brother to love me otherwise.' 'This is rank nonsense. Think of your separations, and of your last--one well nigh seven years--with the Black Watch.' 'But might it not be the case that she may have a _penchant_ for some one else?' 'For whom?' asked Lord Aberfeldie, angrily. 'Well, say for your friend Mr. Holcroft.' 'Penniless Hawke Holcroft! absurd--the man has seen but little of her.' 'Quite enough in London and here to learn to admire, if not to love her. I would, however, rather see her laid in her grave than married to Holcroft,' said Allan, in a stern but broken voice, adding under his breath, as he left his father's presence and cut short an unpleasant interview, 'but, so far as I am concerned, she shall be free to choose for herself--free as the wind.' 'What the deuce can all this mean?' exclaimed Lord Aberfeldie, in great perplexity; 'was ever an unfortunate man more troubled with two intractable girls, than I am with Eveline and Olive!' It has been said that, 'if exceedingly few men and women understand each other when they are in their sober senses, how must it fare when they are under the blinding influence of love?' But Allan's course of action was decided now. CHAPTER XIV. OLIVE CHANGES HER MIND. 'You are pleased to see me again, Olive?' 'Of course, Allan--why do you ask me?' she exclaimed, putting both her hands into his in welcome. He retained them with a tender pressure for half a minute, looking the while wistfully into her violet eyes, and then he let them drop from his clasp. 'You wish particularly to speak with me, I understand?' said Olive, nervously thinking it must refer to the _tête-à-tête_ he had overseen on the terrace. 'Yes--particularly, dear Olive.' When he saw her tender beauty, her grace, and her witchery, and felt all the subtle charm of her presence, his heart was wrung by the thought that, by the very act he had the power to do, and the suggestions he was about to make to her, he might place her at the entire disposal of Hawke Holcroft, of whose real character he now knew more than formerly. How variable had been the emotions she had, ever since his return from India, exhibited towards him! By turns she had been changeable and indifferent apparently; playful, petulant, and imperious; yet always bewitching and sweet.