He had no doubts about the poetry . It was the utterance of one of those great inspired souls whose passing tread has made the kingdom of their birth and labour a veritable Holy Land . He read her some of the poems . Then he talked to her of his college days and friends . The minutes passed very swiftly . There was just then no world for him outside of that old orchard with its falling blossoms and its shadows and its crooning winds . Once , when he told her the story of some college pranks wherein the endless feuds of freshmen and sophomores figured , she clapped her hands together according to her habit , and laughed aloud -- a clear , musical , silvery peal . It fell on Eric 's ear with a shock of surprise . He thought it strange that she could laugh like that when she could not speak . Wherein lay the defect that closed for her the gates of speech ? Was it possible that it could be removed ? `` Kilmeny , '' he said gravely after a moment 's reflection , during which he had looked up as she sat with the ruddy sunlight falling through the lilac branches on her bare , silky head like a shower of red jewels , `` do you mind if I ask you something about your inability to speak ? Will it hurt you to talk of the matter with me ? '' She shook her head . `` Oh , no , '' she wrote , `` I do not mind at all . Of course I am sorry I can not speak , but I am quite used to the thought and it never hurts me at all . '' `` Then , Kilmeny , tell me this . Do you know why it is that you are unable to speak , when all your other faculties are so perfect ? '' `` No , I do not know at all why I can not speak . I asked mother once and she told me it was a judgment on her for a great sin she had committed , and she looked so strangely that I was frightened , and I never spoke of it to her or anyone else again . ''
`` Were you ever taken to a doctor XXXXX have your tongue and organs of speech examined ? ''
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