M 
     
     _—_——_—_—_ 
     
    
   
   
    
     Kilmeny of the Orchard 
     
    
   
   
    
     to teach her What love means, and no man 
     
     has ever had a lovelier, purer, pupil.” 
     
    

    
     At the annual school meeting, the next 
     
     afternoon, the trustees asked Eric to take 
     
     the Lindsay school for the following year. 
     
     He consented unhesitatingly. 
     
    

    
     That evening he went to Mrs. William- 
     
     son, as she washed her tea dishes in the 
     
     kitchen. 
     
    

    
     “ Mrs. Williamson, I am going back to 
     
     the old Connors orchard to see Kilmeny 
     
     again to—night.” 
     
    

    
     She looked at him reproachfully. 
     
    

    
     “ Well, Master, I have no more to say. 
     
     I suppose it wouldn’t be of any use if I 
     
     had. But you know what I think of it.” 
     
    

    
     “ I intend to marry Kilmeny Gordon if 
     
     I can win her.” 
     
    

    
     An expression of amazement came into 
     
     the good woman’s face. She looked scru— 
     
     tinizingly at the firm mouth and steady 
     
     gray eyes for a moment. Then she said in 
     
     a troubled voice, 
     
    

    
     “ Do you think that is wise, Master? 
     
    

    
     I 38