CHAPTER XIV

IN HER SELFLESS MOOD

RIC noticed a change in Kilmeny at their next meeting—a change that troubled him. She seemed aloof,

abstracted, almost ill at ease. When he proposed an excursion to the orchard he thought she was reluctant to go. The days that followed convinced him of the change. Something had come between them. Kilmeny seemed as far away from him as if she had in truth, like her name- sake of the ballad, sojourned for seven years in the land “ where the rain never fell and the wind never blew,” and had come back washed clean from all the af- fections of earth.

Eric had a bad week of it; but he deter— mined to put an end to it by plain speak- ing. One evening in the orchard he told her of his love.

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