But somehow , to his own surprise , he found that he shrank from doing this . He felt that it was impossible to ask Robert Williamson and probably have the girl 's name overflowed in a stream of petty gossip concerning her and all her antecedents and collaterals to the third and fourth generation . If he had to ask any one it should be Mrs. Williamson ; but he meant to find out the secret for himself if it were at all possible . He had planned to go to the harbour the next evening . One of the lobstermen had promised to take him out cod-fishing . But instead he wandered southwest over the fields again . He found the orchard easily -- he had half expected NOT to find it . It was still the same fragrant , grassy , wind-haunted spot . But it had no occupant and the violin bow was gone from the old bench . `` Perhaps she tiptoed back here for it by the light o ' the moon , '' thought Eric , pleasing his fancy by the vision of a lithe , girlish figure stealing with a beating heart through mingled shadow and moonshine . `` I wonder if she will possibly come this evening , or if I have frightened her away for ever . I 'll hide me behind this spruce copse and wait . '' Eric waited until dark , but no music sounded through the orchard and no one came to it . The keenness of his disappointment surprised him , nay more , it vexed him . What nonsense to be so worked up because a little girl he had seen for five minutes failed to appear ! Where was his common sense , his `` gumption , '' as old Robert Williamson would have said ? Naturally a man liked to look at a pretty face . But was that any reason why he should feel as if life were flat , stale , and unprofitable simply because he could not look at it ? He called himself a fool and went home in a petulant mood . Arriving there , he plunged fiercely into solving algebraical equations and working out geometry exercises , determined to put out of his head forthwith all vain imaginings of an enchanted orchard , white in the moonshine , with lilts of elfin music echoing down its long arcades .
The next day was Sunday and Eric went XXXXX church twice .
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