第21部分(第6/7 頁)

　was　in　mortal　fear　of　you　all。 Ah；　forgive　me！ I　assure　you；　for　many　days　I　believed　myself　in　the　power　of　wicked　wretches；　and　I　longed　to　escape。 You；　Madge；　first　led　me　to　perceive　the　truth；　not　by　anything　you　said；　but　by　the　sight　of　your　daily　life；　for　I　saw　that　your　husband　and　son　loved　and　respected　you！　Then　all　these　good　and　happy　workmen；　who　so　revere　and　trust　Mr。　Starr；　I　used　to　think　they　were　slaves；　and　when；　for　the　first　time；　I　saw　the　whole　population　of　Aberfoyle　e　to　church　and　kneel　down　to　pray　to　God；　and　praise　Him　for　His　infinite　goodness；　I　said　to　myself；　'My　grandfather　has　deceived　me。' But　now；　enlightened　by　all　you　have　taught　me；　I　am　inclined　to　think　he　himself　is　deceived。　I　mean　to　return　to　the　secret　passages　I　formerly　frequented　with　him。 He　is　certain　to　be　on　the　watch。 I　will　call　to　him；　he　will　hear　me；　and　who　knows　but　that；　by　returning　to　him；　I　may　be　able　to　bring　him　to　the　knowledge　of　the　truth？〃

The　maiden　spoke　without　interruption；　for　all　felt　that　it　was　good　for　her　to　open　her　whole　heart　to　her　friends。

But　when；　exhausted　by　emotion；　and　with　eyes　full　of　tears；　she　ceased　speaking；　Harry　turned　to　old　Madge　and　said；　〃Mother；　what　should　you　think　of　the　man　who　could　forsake　the　noble　girl　whose　words　you　have　been　listening　to？〃

〃I　should　think　he　was　a　base　coward；〃　said　Madge；　〃and；　were　he　my　son；　I　should　renounce　and　curse　him。〃

〃Nell；　do　you　hear　what　our　mother　says？〃　resumed　Harry。 〃Wherever　you　go　I　will　follow　you。 If　you　persist　in　leaving　us；　we　will　go　away　together。〃

〃Harry！ Harry！〃　cried　Nell。

Overe　by　her　feelings；　the　girl's　lips　blanched；　and　she　sank　into　the　arms　of　Madge；　who　begged　she　might　be　left　alone　with　her。