M 
     
    
   
   
    
     Kilmeny of the Orchard 
     
    
   
   
    
     seems to me that I ought to speak. I hope 
     
     you won’t be angry, but even if you are 
     
     I must say what I have to say. Are you 
     
     going back to the old Connors orchard to 
     
     meet Kflmeny Gordon? ” 
     
    

    
     For a moment an angry flush burned in 
     
     Eric’s face. It was more Mrs. William- 
     
     son’s tone than her words which startled 
     
    
   
   
    
     and annoyed him. 
     
    
   
   
    
     “ Yes, I am, Mrs. Williamson,” he said 
     
     coldly. “ What of it? ” 
     
    

    
     “ Then, sir,’ ’ said Mrs. Williamson with 
     
     more firmness, “I have got to tell you 
     
     that I don’t think you are doing right. I 
     
     have been suspecting all along that that 
     
     was where you went every evening, but 
     
     I haven’t said a word to any one about 
     
     it. Even my husband doesn’t know. But 
     
     tell me this, Master. Do Kilmeny’s uncle 
     
     and aunt know that you are meeting her 
     
     there? ” 
     
    

    
     “ Why,” said Eric, in some confusion, 
     
     “ I—I do not know whether they do or 
     
     not. But Mrs. Williamson, surely you do 
     
    

    
     I 32