The latter had not failed to perceive that his friend had until now considered him as little better than a lunatic . `` Kilmeny , this is my friend , Dr. Baker , '' he said . Kilmeny held out her hand with a smile . Her beauty , as she stood there in the fresh morning sunshine beside a clump of her sister lilies , was something to take away a man 's breath . David , who was by no means lacking in confidence and generally had a ready tongue where women were concerned , found himself as mute and awkward as a school boy , as he bowed over her hand . But Kilmeny was charmingly at ease . There was not a trace of embarrassment in her manner , though there was a pretty shyness . Eric smiled as he recalled HIS first meeting with her . He suddenly realized how far Kilmeny had come since then and how much she had developed . With a little gesture of invitation Kilmeny led the way through the orchard to the wild cherry lane , and the two men followed . `` Eric , she is simply unutterable ! '' said David in an undertone . `` Last night , to tell you the truth , I had a rather poor opinion of your sanity . But now I am consumed with a fierce envy . She is the loveliest creature I ever saw . '' Eric introduced David to the Gordons and then hurried away to his school . On his way down the Gordon lane he met Neil and was half startled by the glare of hatred in the Italian boy 's eyes . Pity succeeded the momentary alarm . Neil 's face had grown thin and haggard ; his eyes were sunken and feverishly bright ; he looked years older than on the day when Eric had first seen him in the brook hollow . Prompted by sudden compassionate impulse Eric stopped and held out his hand .
`` XXXXX , ca n't we be friends ? ''
Baker Eric Gordon Gordons Kilmeny Neil first shyness undertone years