第14部分(第3/7 頁)

。　It　was　impossible　to　say　how　long　she　might　have　been　in　that　pit。

〃How　many　days　had　you　been　doadge。

Nell　made　no　answer；　she　seemed　not　to　understand　the　question。

〃How　many　days；　do　you　think？〃

〃Days？〃　repeated　Nell；　as　though　the　word　had　no　meaning　for　her；　and　she　shook　her　head　to　signify　entire　want　of　prehension。

Madge　took　her　hand；　and　stroked　it　caressingly。 〃How　old　are　you；　my　lassie？〃　she　asked；　smiling　kindly　at　her。

Nell　shook　her　head　again。

〃Yes；　yes；〃　continued　Madge；　〃how　many　years　old？〃

〃Years？〃　replied　Nell。 She　seemed　to　understand　that　word　no　better　than　days！ Simon；　Harry；　Jack；　and　the　rest；　looked　on　with　an　air　of　mingled　passion；　wonder；　and　sympathy。　The　state　of　this　poor　thing；　clothed　in　a　miserable　garment　of　coarse　woolen　stuff；　seemed　to　impress　them　painfully。

Harry；　more　than　all　the　rest；　seemed　attracted　by　the　very　peculiarity　of　this　poor　stranger。 He　drew　near；　took　Nell's　hand　from　his　mother；　and　looked　directly　at　her；　while　something　like　a　smile　curved　her　lip。　〃Nell；〃　he　said；　〃Nell；　away　down　there……in　the　mine……were　you　all　alone？〃

〃Alone！　alone！〃　cried　the　girl；　raising　herself　hastily。　Her　features　expressed　terror；　her　eyes；　which　had　appeared　to　soften　as　Harry　looked　at　her；　became　quite　wild　again。　〃Alone！〃　repeated　she；　〃alone！〃……and　she　fell　back　on　the　bed；　as　though　deprived　of　all　strength。

〃The　poor　bairn　is　too　weak　to　speak　to　us；〃　said　Madge；　when　she　had　adjusted　the　pillows。 〃After　a　good　rest；　and　a　little　more　food；　she　will　be　stronger。 e　away；　Simon　and　Harry；　and　all　the　rest　of　you；　and　let　her　go　to　sleep。〃　So　Nell　was　left　alone；　and　in　a　very　few　minutes　slept　profoundly。

This　event　caused　a　great　se