A certain little whimsical wish took possession of him and he did not hasten to tell her the truth , as had been his first impulse . Instead , when he dared to look up he said slowly , `` I do n't think you are ugly , Kilmeny . '' `` Oh , but I am sure you must , '' she wrote protestingly . `` Even Neil does . He tells me I am kind and nice , but one day I asked him if he thought me very ugly , and he looked away and would not speak , so I knew what he thought about it , too . Do not let us speak of this again . It makes me feel sorry and spoils everything . I forget it at other times . Let me play you some good-bye music , and do not feel vexed because I would not take your book . It would only make me unhappy to read it . '' `` I am not vexed , '' said Eric , `` and I think you will take it some day yet -- after I have shown you something I want you to see . Never mind about your looks , Kilmeny . Beauty is n't everything . '' `` Oh , it is a great deal , '' she wrote naively . `` But you do like me , even though I am so ugly , do n't you ? You like me because of my beautiful music , do n't you ? '' `` I like you very much , Kilmeny , '' answered Eric , laughing a little ; but there was in his voice a tender note of which he was unconscious . Kilmeny was aware of it , however , and she picked up her violin with a pleased smile . He left her playing there , and all the way through the dim resinous spruce wood her music followed him like an invisible guardian spirit . `` Kilmeny the Beautiful ! ''
he murmured , `` and yet , good heavens , the child thinks she is ugly -- she with a face more lovely than ever an artist dreamed XXXXX !
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