Then she lifted a little slate that hung at her belt , wrote something on it rapidly , and held it out to him . He read , in a small distinctive handwriting , `` I am not afraid of you now . Mother told me that all strange men were very wicked and dangerous , but I do not think you can be . I have thought a great deal about you , and I am sorry I ran away the other night . '' He realized her entire innocence and simplicity . Looking earnestly into her still troubled eyes he said , `` I would not do you any harm for the world . All men are not wicked , although it is too true that some are so . My name is Eric Marshall and I am teaching in the Lindsay school . You , I think , are Kilmeny Gordon . I thought your music so very lovely the other evening that I have been wishing ever since that I might hear it again . Wo n't you play for me ? '' The vague fear had all gone from her eyes by this time , and suddenly she smiled -- a merry , girlish , wholly irresistible smile , which broke through the calm of her face like a gleam of sunlight rippling over a placid sea . Then she wrote , `` I am very sorry that I can not play this evening . I did not bring my violin with me . But I will bring it to-morrow evening and play for you if you would like to hear me . I should like to please you . '' Again that note of innocent frankness ! What a child she was -- what a beautiful , ignorant child , utterly unskilled in the art of hiding her feelings ! But why should she hide them ? They were as pure and beautiful as herself .
Eric smiled back at her XXXXX equal frankness .
at from if in into like on since through with