This hurt him a little , but she assured him she would wear them all sometimes . `` I am not used to jewelry , Mr. MacPherson , '' she would tell him . Her engagement ring she did wear -- it was a rather `` loud '' combination of engraved gold and opals . Sometimes we caught her turning it on her finger with a very troubled face . `` I would be sorry for Mr. Malcolm MacPherson if he were not so much in love with her , '' said Peggy . `` But as he thinks that she is perfection he does n't need sympathy . '' `` I am sorry for Aunt Olivia , '' I said . `` Yes , Peggy , I am . Mr. MacPherson is a splendid man , but Aunt Olivia is a born old maid , and it is outraging her very nature to be anything else . Do n't you see how it 's hurting her ? His big , splendid man-ways are harrowing her very soul up -- she ca n't get out of her little , narrow groove , and it is killing her to be pulled out . '' `` Nonsense ! '' said Peggy . Then she added with a laugh , `` Mary , did you ever see anything so funny as Aunt Olivia sitting on ` Mr. Malcolm MacPherson 's ' knee ? '' It WAS funny . Aunt Olivia thought it very unbecoming to sit there before us , but he made her do it . He would say , with his big , jolly laugh , `` Do n't be minding the little girls , '' and pull her down on his knee and hold her there . To my dying day I shall never forget the expression on the poor little woman 's face . But , as the days went by and Mr. Malcolm MacPherson began to insist on a date being set for the wedding , Aunt Olivia grew to have a strangely disturbed look . She became very quiet , and never laughed except under protest .
Also , she showed signs XXXXX petulance when any of us , but especially father , teased her about her beau .
Peggy To as before days for of on that with