"She gave me the chance of making it, provided I gave you up," said Rupert, "and she lost her temper with me because I declined."
"Will you never be friends with her?"
"I fear not, while Miss Pewsey is in the way," said Rupert. "Olivia, it is that woman who makes all the mischief."
"I think it is," replied the girl with a weary smile, "but she seems to have a kind of hypnotic power over my aunt--"
"What do you mean?"
"Aunt Sophia has bad headaches and Miss Pewsey sometimes hypnotises her to send away the pain."
"Miss Wharf is foolish to allow her to do such a thing. That little woman is no more to be trusted than her scamp of a nephew is."
"Well it doesn't matter," said Olivia, feeling in her pocket. "I want to talk about ourselves. See Rupert you wanted a silk tie the other day. I have knitted you one--red and yellow."
Rupert took the tie and admired it in the lamp light. He would have kissed Olivia's hand after a few words of warm thanks, but she prevented him.
"Someone might see and tell Aunt Sophia," she said hurriedly, "I should have given it to you the other day when I called at the Abbey, but I forgot, so I decided to give it to you to-night. It's rather awkward your having it now. Give it to me again."