`` Kilmeny , dearest , have I alarmed you ? Surely you knew before that I loved you . Do n't you care for me ? '' Eric said , putting his arm about her and trying to draw her to him . But she shook her head sorrowfully , and wrote with compressed lips , `` Yes , I do love you , but I will never marry you , because I can not speak . '' `` Oh , Kilmeny , '' said Eric smiling , for he believed his victory won , `` that does n't make any difference to me -- you know it does n't , sweetest . If you love me that is enough . '' But Kilmeny only shook her head again . There was a very determined look on her pale face . She wrote , `` No , it is not enough . It would be doing you a great wrong to marry you when I can not speak , and I will not do it because I love you too much to do anything that would harm you . Your world would think you had done a very foolish thing and it would be right . I have thought it all over many times since something Aunt Janet said made me understand , and I know I am doing right . I am sorry I did not understand sooner , before you had learned to care so much . '' `` Kilmeny , darling , you have taken a very absurd fancy into that dear black head of yours . Do n't you know that you will make me miserably unhappy all my life if you will not be my wife ? '' `` No , you think so now ; and I know you will feel very badly for a time . Then you will go away and after awhile you will forget me ; and then you will see that I was right . I shall be very unhappy , too , but that is better than spoiling your life . Do not plead or coax because I shall not change my mind . ''
Eric did plead and coax , however -- at first patiently and smilingly , as one might argue with a dear foolish child ; then with vehement and distracted earnestness , as he began to realize that XXXXX meant what she said .
Eric Janet Kilmeny face fancy head life look right wife