He spoke humbly but not fearfully , for he believed that she loved him , and he had little expectation of any rebuff . `` Kilmeny , will you be my wife ? '' he asked finally , taking her hands in his . Kilmeny had listened with averted face . At first she had blushed painfully but now she had grown very pale . When he had finished speaking and was waiting for her answer , she suddenly pulled her hands away , and , putting them over her face , burst into tears and noiseless sobs . `` 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 XXXXX yours .
At If about because before in into of that with