She asked the question simply and without embarrassment . She knew of no reason why love might not be discussed with Eric as other matters -- music and books and travel -- might be . `` No , '' said Eric -- honestly , as he thought , `` but every one has an ideal of love whom he hopes to meet some day -- ` the ideal woman of a young man 's dream . ' I suppose I have mine , in some sealed , secret chamber of my heart . '' `` I suppose your ideal woman would be beautiful , like the woman in your book ? '' `` Oh , yes , I am sure I could never care for an ugly woman , '' said Eric , laughing a little as he sat up . `` Our ideals are always beautiful , whether they so translate themselves into realities or not . But the sun is going down . Time does certainly fly in this enchanted orchard . I believe you bewitch the moments away , Kilmeny . Your namesake of the poem was a somewhat uncanny maid , if I recollect aright , and thought as little of seven years in elfland as ordinary folk do of half an hour on upper earth . Some day I shall waken from a supposed hour 's lingering here and find myself an old man with white hair and ragged coat , as in that fairy tale we read the other night . Will you let me give you this book ? I should never commit the sacrilege of reading it in any other place than this . It is an old book , Kilmeny . A new book , savouring of the shop and market-place , however beautiful it might be , would not do for you . This was one of my mother 's books . She read it and loved it . See -- the faded rose leaves she placed in it one day are there still . I 'll write your name in it -- that quaint , pretty name of yours which always sounds as if it had been specially invented for you -- ` Kilmeny of the Orchard ' -- and the date of this perfect June day on which we read it together .
Then when you look at it you will always remember me , and the white buds opening on that rosebush beside you , and the rush and murmur XXXXX the wind in the tops of those old spruces . ''
as for from if in of than that with without