"I imagine she had something to do with my getting the new post."
Olivia gave him a keen glance and was quiet for a few moments. Then she said, "It's possible! You feel you ought to thank her?"
"Of course," said Kit and pondered. It looked as if Olivia were angry, and this was puzzling.
"The post is good," he resumed. "I could get no farther on board the correillo and my work was not important. On the bigger boat I'll have some responsibility. Wolf is not going with her and gives me control. You see——"
"I think I do see," Olivia interrupted with a touch of scornful impatience. "You imagine you are going to force people to own your talents? This, of course, is enough for you, and you see nothing else. You imagine Jacinta knew your ambition and wanted to help?"
"I'm satisfied she did want to help, and she has helped. Mrs. Austin's kind."
Olivia laughed. Kit was very dull, but Jacinta's firm rule was sometimes galling. Olivia saw her object and wanted to baffle her. Besides, she doubted Wolf and knew Austin did not like him.
"Kit," she said, "suppose I asked you to do something for me?"
"Try!" he said, rather tensely, and waited.
"Then don't go to Africa. Stop at Las Palmas."