With a groan Eric flung himself on a chair and buried his face in his hands . It was a moment which held for him all the bitterness of death . He had thought that he was prepared for disappointment ; he had not known how strong his hope had really been until that hope was utterly taken from him . David , with a sigh , returned the crochet antimacassar carefully to its place on the chair back . `` Eric , last night , to be honest , I thought that , if I found I could not help this girl , it would be the best thing that could happen , as far as you were concerned . But since I have seen her -- well , I would give my right hand if I could do anything for her . She is the wife for you , if we could make her speak ; yes , and by the memory of your mother '' -- David brought his fist down on the window sill with a force that shook the casement , -- `` she is the wife for you , speech or no speech , if we could only convince her of it . '' `` She can not be convinced of that . No , David , I have lost her . Did you tell her what you have told me ? '' `` I told her I could not help her . I did not say anything to her of my theory -- that would have done no good . '' `` How did she take it ? '' `` Very bravely and quietly -- ` like a winsome lady ' . But the look in her eyes -- Eric , I felt as if I had murdered something . She bade me good-bye with a pitiful smile and went upstairs . I did not see her again , although I stayed to dinner as her uncle 's request . Those old Gordons are a queer pair . I liked them , though . They are strong and staunch -- good friends , bitter enemies .
They were sorry XXXXX I could not help Kilmeny , but I saw plainly that old Thomas Gordon thought that I had been meddling with predestination in attempting it . ''
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