Kilmeny of the Orchard 
     
    
   
   
    
     were to consult them they would tell you 
     
     just what I have told you, neither more 
     
     nor less.” 
     
    

    
     “ Then there is no hope,” said Eric in 
     
     a tone of despair. “ You can do nothing 
     
     for her? ” 
     
    

    
     David took from the back of his chair a 
     
     crochet antimacassar with a lion rampant 
     
     inthe centre and spread it over his knee. 
     
    

    
     “ I can do nothing for her,” he said, 
     
     scowling at that work of art. “ I do not 
     
     believe any living man can do anything 
     
     for her. But I do not say—exactly—that 
     
     there is no hope.” 
     
    

    
     “Come, David, I am in no mood for 
     
     guessing riddles. Speak plainly, man, 
     
     and don’t torment me.” 
     
    

    
     David frowned dubiously and poked his 
     
     finger through the hole which represented 
     
     the eye of the king of beasts. 
     
    

    
     “ I don’t know that I can make it plain 
     
     to you. It isn’t very plain to myself. And 
     
     it is only a vague theory of mine, of 
     
     course. I cannot substantiate it by any 
     
    

    
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