On the contrary they have been very kind to me , and they say I may see you whenever and wherever I like . '' She smiled , and went over to the table to write on her slate . `` But they were very angry last night , and said dreadful things to me . I felt very frightened and unhappy . They seemed to think I had done something terribly wrong . Uncle Thomas said he would never trust me out of his sight again . I could hardly believe it when Aunt Janet came up and told me you were here and that I might come down . She looked at me very strangely as she spoke , but I could see that all the anger had gone out of her face . She seemed pleased and yet sad . But I am glad they have forgiven us . '' She did not tell him how glad she was , and how unhappy she had been over the thought that she was never to see him again . Yesterday she would have told him all frankly and fully ; but for her yesterday was a lifetime away -- a lifetime in which she had come into her heritage of womanly dignity and reserve . The kiss which Eric had left on her lips , the words her uncle and aunt had said to her , the tears she had shed for the first time on a sleepless pillow -- all had conspired to reveal her to herself . She did not yet dream that she loved Eric Marshall , or that he loved her . But she was no longer the child to be made a dear comrade of . She was , though quite unconsciously , the woman to be wooed and won , exacting , with sweet , innate pride , her dues of allegiance . CHAPTER XIII . A SWEETER WOMAN NE'ER DREW BREATH Thenceforward Eric Marshall was a constant visitor at the Gordon homestead . He soon became a favourite with Thomas and Janet , especially the latter . He liked them both , discovering under all their outward peculiarities sterling worth and fitness of character .
Thomas Gordon was surprisingly well read and could floor Eric any time in argument , once he XXXXX sufficiently warmed up to attain fluency of words .
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