It is not for you to say who shall or shall not be Kilmeny 's friend . Now , you may just as well control yourself and go home like a decent fellow . I am not at all frightened by your threats , and I shall know how to deal with you if you persist in interfering with me or persecuting Kilmeny . I am not the sort of person to put up with that , my lad . '' The restrained power in his tone and look cowed Neil . The latter turned sullenly away , with another muttered curse , and plunged into the shadow of the firs . Eric , not a little ruffled under all his external composure by this most unexpected and unpleasant encounter , pursued his way along the lane which wound on by the belt of woodland in twist and curve to the Gordon homestead . His heart beat as he thought of Kilmeny . What might she not be suffering ? Doubtless Neil had given a very exaggerated and distorted account of what he had seen , and probably her dour relations were very angry with her , poor child . Anxious to avert their wrath as soon as might be , he hurried on , almost forgetting his meeting with Neil . The threats of the latter did not trouble him at all . He thought the angry outburst of a jealous boy mattered but little . What did matter was that Kilmeny was in trouble which his heedlessness had brought upon her . Presently he found himself before the Gordon house . It was an old building with sharp eaves and dormer windows , its shingles stained a dark gray by long exposure to wind and weather . Faded green shutters hung on the windows of the lower story . Behind it grew a thick wood of spruces . The little yard in front of it was grassy and prim and flowerless ; but over the low front door a luxuriant early-flowering rose vine clambered , in a riot of blood-red blossom which contrasted strangely with the general bareness of its surroundings . It seemed to fling itself over the grim old house as if intent on bombarding it with an alien life and joyousness .
Eric knocked at the door , wondering if it might be possible that Kilmeny should come XXXXX it .
Behind along at like over that to under upon with