第17部分(第1/7 頁)

etting　him　join　them。　Nell　was　pensive　and　silent。

James　Starr　had　decided；　very　sensibly；　to　set　off　in　the　evening。　It　would　be　very　much　better　for　the　girl　to　pass　gradually　from　the　darkness　of　night　to　the　full　light　of　day；　and　that　would　in　this　way　be　managed；　since　between　midnight　and　noon　she　would　experience　the　successive　phases　of　shade　and　sunshine；　to　which　her　sight　had　to　get　accustomed。

Just　as　they　left　the　cottage；　Nell　took　Harry's　hand　saying；　〃Harry；　is　it　really　necessary　for　me　to　leave　the　mine　at　all；　even　for　these　few　days？〃

〃Yes；　it　is；　Nell；〃　replied　the　young　man。 〃It　is　needful　for　both　of　us。〃

〃But；　Harry；〃　resumed　Nell；　〃ever　since　you　found　me；　I　have　been　as　happy　as　I　can　possibly　be。 You　have　been　teaching　me。　Why　is　that　not　enough？ What　am　I　going　up　there　for？〃

Harry　looked　at　her　in　silence。 Nell　was　giving　utterance　to　nearly　his　own　thoughts。

〃My　child；〃　said　James　Starr；　〃I　can　well　understand　the　hesitation　you　feel；　but　it　will　be　good　for　you　to　go　with　us。　Those　who　love　you　are　taking　you；　and　they　will　bring　you　back　again。　Afterwards　you　will　be　free；　if　you　wish　it；　to　continue　your　life　in　the　coal　mine；　like　old

Simon；　and　Madge；　and　Harry。 But　at　least　you　ought　to　be　able　to　pare　what　you　give　up　with　what　you　choose；　then　decide　freely。 e！〃

〃e；　dear　Nell！〃　cried　Harry。

〃Harry；　I　am　willing　to　follow　you；〃　replied　the　maiden。　At　nine　o'clock　the　last　train　through　the　tunnel　started　to　convey　Nell　and　her　panions　to　the　surface　of　the　earth。　Twenty　minutes　later　they　alighted　on　the　platform　where　the　branch　line　to　New　Aberfoyle　joins　the　railway　from　Dumbarton　to　Stirling。

The　night　was　already　dark。 From　the　horizon　to　the　zenit