Kilmeny of the Orchard

“ Must that be, Master? Oh, it’s a bitter tale to tell a stranger.”

“ Don’t be afraid. I shall tell him noth— ing that is not strictly necessary to his proper understanding of the case. It will be quite enough to say that Kilmeny may be dumb because for several months be~ fore her birth her mother’s mind was in a very morbid condition, and she pre- served a stubborn and unbroken silence because of a certain bitter personal re- sentment.”

“ Well, do as you think best, Mas ter.”

Janet plainly had no faith in the pos— sibility of anything being done for Kil— meny, But a rosy glow of hope flashed over Kilmeny’s face when Eric told her what he meant to do.

“ Oh, do you think he can make me speak? ” she wrote eagerly.

“ I don’t know, Kilmeny. I hope that he can, and I know he will do all that mortal skill can do. If he can remove

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