'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.