Her eyes were of such a blue as Eric had never seen in eyes before , the tint of the sea in the still , calm light that follows after a fine sunset ; they were as luminous as the stars that came out over Lindsay Harbour in the afterglow , and were fringed about with very long , soot-black lashes , and arched over by most delicately pencilled dark eyebrows . Her skin was as fine and purely tinted as the heart of a white rose . The collarless dress of pale blue print she wore revealed her smooth , slender throat ; her sleeves were rolled up above her elbows and the hand which guided the bow of her violin was perhaps the most beautiful thing about her , perfect in shape and texture , firm and white , with rosy-nailed taper fingers . One long , drooping plume of lilac blossom lightly touched her hair and cast a wavering shadow over the flower-like face beneath it . There was something very child-like about her , and yet at least eighteen sweet years must have gone to the making of her . She seemed to be playing half unconsciously , as if her thoughts were far away in some fair dreamland of the skies . But presently she looked away from `` the bourne of sunset , '' and her lovely eyes fell on Eric , standing motionless before her in the shadow of the apple tree . The sudden change that swept over her was startling . She sprang to her feet , the music breaking in mid-strain and the bow slipping from her hand to the grass . Every hint of colour fled from her face and she trembled like one of the wind-stirred June lilies . `` I beg your pardon , '' said Eric hastily . `` I am sorry that I have alarmed you . But your music was so beautiful that I did not remember you were not aware of my presence here . Please forgive me . '' He stopped in dismay , for he suddenly realized that the expression on the girl 's face was one of terror -- not merely the startled alarm of a shy , childlike creature who had thought herself alone , but absolute terror . It was betrayed in her blanched and quivering lips and in the widely distended blue eyes that stared back into his with the expression of some trapped wild thing . It hurt him that any woman should look at him in such a fashion , at him who had always held womanhood in such reverence . `` Do n't look so frightened , '' he said gently , thinking only of calming her fear , and speaking as he would to a child . `` I will not hurt you . You are safe , quite safe . ''
In his eagerness XXXXX reassure her he took an unconscious step forward .
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