第20部分(第3/7 頁)

d　all　the　influence　of　their　chiefs　to　keep　them　on　the　works。

〃You　would　think　that　there　was　a　whole　band　of　these　ruffians；〃　Simon　kept　saying；　〃and　we　can't　lay　hands　on　a　single　one　of　them。〃

Search　was　made　in　all　directions。 The　county　police　were　on　the　alert　night　and　day；　yet　discovered　nothing。 The　evil　intentions　seeming　specially　designed　to　injure　Harry。 Starr　forbade　him　to　venture　alone　beyond　the　ordinary　limits　of　the　works。

They　were　equally　careful　of　Nell；　although；　at　Harry's　entreaty；　these　malicious　attempts　to　do　harm　were　concealed　from　her；　because　they　might　remind　her　painfully

of　former　times。 Simon　and　Madge　watched　over　her　by　day　and　by　night　with　a　sort　of　stern　solicitude。 The　poor　child　yielded　to　their　wishes；　without　a　remark　or　a　plaint。　Did　she　perceive　that　they　acted　with　a　view　to　her　interest？　Probably　she　did。 And　on　her　part；　she　seemed　to　watch　over　others；　and　was　never　easy　unless　all　whom　she　loved　were　together　in　the　cottage。

When　Harry　came　home　in　the　evening；　she　could　not　restrain　expressions　of　child…like　joy；　very　unlike　her　usual　manner；　which　was　rather　reserved　than　demonstrative。 As　soon　as　day　broke；　she　was　astir　before　anyone　else；　and　her　constant　uneasiness　lasted　all　day　until　the　hour　of　return　home　from　work。

Harry　became　very　anxious　that　their　marriage　should　take　place。　He　thought　that；　when　the　irrevocable　step　was　taken；　malevolence　would　be　disarmed；　and　that　Nell　would　never　feel　safe　until　she　was　his　wife。　James　Starr；　Simon；　and　Madge；　were　all　of　the　same　opinion；　and　everyone　counted　the　intervening　days；　for　everyone　suffered　from　the　most　unfortable　forebodings。

It　was　perfectly　evident　that　nothing　relating　to　Nell　was　indifferent