She talks of the influence of an elder over a younger man, for instance.

It is one of her favourite attitudes towards the question, as it is always a successful appeal to popular prejudice and ignorance.

I need not ask you what influence I had over you.

You know I had none.
It was one of your frequent boasts that I had none, the only one indeed, that was well founded.

What was there, as a mere matter of fact, in you that I could influence?
Your brain?
It was undeveloped.