Kilmeny of the Orchard

“ Have you ever loved? ” asked Kil- meny, with the directness of phrasing necessitated by her mode of communica- tion which was sometimes a little terrible. She asked the question simply and with- out‘ any embarrassment. She knew of no reason why love might not be discussed with Eric as other matters—music and books and travel—might be.

“ No,” said Eric—honestly, as he thought, “ but every one has an ideal of love whom he hopes to meet some day— ‘ the ideal woman of a young man’s dream.’ I suppose I have mine, in some sealed, secret chamber of my heart.”

“ I suppose your ideal woman would be beautiful, like the woman in your book? ”

“ Oh, yes, I am sure I could never care for an ugly woman,” said Eric, laughing a little as he sat up. “ Our ideals are al— ways beautiful, whether they so translate themselves into realities or not. But the sun is going down. Time does certainly fly in this enchanted orchard. I believe

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