“Mr. Marshall, I want to ask you a question.  Perhaps you will think it isn’t any of my business.  But it isn’t because I want to meddle.  No, no.  It is only because I think I ought to speak.  I have thought it over for a long time, and it seems to me that I ought to speak.  I hope you won’t be angry, but even if you are I must say what I have to say.  Are you going back to the old Connors orchard to meet Kilmeny Gordon?”

For a moment an angry flush burned in Eric’s face.  It was more Mrs. Williamson’s tone than her words which startled and annoyed him.

“Yes, I am, Mrs. Williamson,” he said coldly.  “What of it?”

“Then, sir,” said Mrs. Williamson with more firmness, “I have got to tell you that I don’t think you are doing right.  I have been suspecting all along that that was where you went every evening, but I haven’t said a word to any one about it.  Even my husband doesn’t know.  But tell me this, Master.  Do Kilmeny’s uncle and aunt know that you are meeting her there?”

“Why,” said Eric, in some confusion, “I—­I do not know whether they do or not.  But Mrs. Williamson, surely you do not suspect me of meaning any harm or wrong to Kilmeny Gordon?”

“No, I don’t, Master.  I might think it of some men, but never of you.  I don’t for a minute think that you would do her or any woman any wilful wrong.  But you may do her great harm for all that.  I want you to stop and think about it.  I guess you haven’t thought.  Kilmeny can’t know anything about the world or about men, and she may get to thinking too much of you.  That might break her heart, because you couldn’t ever marry a dumb girl like her.  So I don’t think you ought to be meeting her so often in this fashion.  It isn’t right, Master.  Don’t go to the orchard again.”

Without a word Eric turned away, and went upstairs to his room.  Mrs. Williamson picked up her knitting with a sigh.

“That’s done, Timothy, and I’m real thankful,” she said.  “I guess there’ll be no need of saying anything more.  Mr. Marshall is a fine young man, only a little thoughtless.  Now that he’s got his eyes opened I’m sure he’ll do what is right.  I don’t want Margaret’s child made unhappy.”

Her husband came to the kitchen door and sat down on the steps to enjoy his evening smoke, talking between whiffs to his wife of Elder Tracy’s church row, and Mary Alice Martin’s beau, the price Jake Crosby was giving for eggs, the quantity of hay yielded by the hill meadow, the trouble he was having with old Molly’s calf, and the respective merits of Plymouth Rock and Brahma roosters.  Mrs. Williamson answered at random, and heard not one word in ten.

“What’s got the Master, Mother?” inquired old Robert, presently.  “I hear him striding up and down in his room ’sif he was caged.  Sure you didn’t lock him in by mistake?”

“Maybe he’s worried over the way Seth Tracy’s acting in school,” suggested Mrs. Williamson, who did not choose that her gossipy husband should suspect the truth about Eric and Kilmeny Gordon.