第21部分(第4/7 頁)

ndfather　discovered　what　I　had　done；　his　rage　against　me　was　terrible。 I　expected　death　at　his　hands。 After　that　my　life　became　insupportable　to　me。　My　grandfather　pletely　lost　his　senses。 He　proclaimed　himself　King　of　Darkness　and　Flame；　and　when　he　heard　your　tools　at　work　on　coal…beds　which　he　considered　entirely　his　own；　he　became　furious　and　beat　me　cruelly。 I　would　have　fled　from　him；　but　it　was　impossible；　so　narrowly　did　he　watch　me。　At　last；　in　a　fit　of　ungovernable　fury；　he　threw　me　down　into　the　abyss　where　you　found　me；　and　disappeared；　vainly　calling　on　Harfang；　which　faithfully　stayed　by　me；　to　follow　him。　I　know　not　how　long　I　remained　there；　but　I　felt　I　was　at　the　point　of　death　when　you；　my　Harry；　came　and　saved　me。　But　now　you　all　see　that　the　grandchild　of　old　Silfax　can

never　be　the　wife　of　Harry　Ford；　because　it　would　be　certain　death　to　you　all！〃

〃Nell！〃　cried　Harry。

〃No；〃　continued　the　maiden；　〃my　resolution　is　taken。 By　one　means　only　can　your　ruin　be　averted；　I　must　return　to　my　grandfather。　He　threatens　to　destroy　the　whole　of　New　Aberfoyle。 His　is　a　soul　incapable　of　mercy　or　forgiveness；　and　no　mortal　can　say　to　what　horrid　deed　the　spirit　of　revenge　will　lead　him。　My　duty　is　clear；　I　should　be　the　most　despicable　creature　on　earth　did　I　hesitate　to　perform　it。 Farewell！ I　thank　you　all　heartily。　You　only　have　taught　me　what　happiness　is。 Whatever　may　befall；　believe　that　my　whole　heart　remains　with　you。〃

At　these　words；　Simon；　Madge；　and　Harry　started　up　in　an　agony　of　grief；　exclaiming　in　tones　of　despair；　〃What；　Nell！　is　it　possible　you　would　leave　us？〃

James　Starr　put　them　all　aside　with　an　air　of　authority；　and；　going　straight　up　to　Nell；　he　took　both　her　hands　in　his；　saying　quietly；　〃Very　ri