第17部分(第2/7 頁)

h；　light　vapory　clouds　hurried　through　the　upper　air；　driven　by　a　refreshing　northwesterly　breeze。 The　day　had　been　lovely；　the　night　promised　to　be　so　likewise。

On　reaching　Stirling；　Nell　and　her　friends；　quitting　the　train；　left　the　station　immediately。 Just　before　them；　between　high　trees；　they　could　see　a　road　which　led　to　the　banks　of　the　river　Forth。

The　first　physical　impression　on　the　girl　was　the　purity　of　the　air　inhaled　eagerly　by　her　lungs。

〃Breathe　it　freely；　Nell；〃　said　James　Starr；　〃it　is　fragrant　with　all　the　scents　of　the　open　country。〃

〃What　is　all　that　smoke　passing　over　our　heads？〃　inquired　Nell。

〃Those　are　clouds；〃　answered　Harry；　〃blown　along　by　the　westerly　wind。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Nell；　〃how　I　should　like　to　feel　myself　carried　along　in　that　silent　whirl！ And　what　are　those　shining　sparks　which　glance　here　and　there　between　rents　in　the　clouds？〃

〃Those　are　the　stars　I　have　told　you　about；　Nell。 So　many　suns　they　are；　so　many　centers　of　worlds　like　our　own；　most　likely。〃

The　constellations　became　more　clearly　visible　as　the　wind　cleared　the　clouds　from　the　deep　blue　of　the　firmament。　Nell　gazed　upon　the　myriad　stars　which　sparkled　overhead。　〃But　how　is　it；〃　she　said　at　length；　〃that　if　these　are　suns；　my　eyes　can　endure　their　brightness？〃

〃My　child；〃　replied　James　Starr；　〃they　are　indeed　suns；　but　suns　at　an　enormous　distance。 The　nearest　of　these　millions　of　stars；　whose　rays　can　reach　us；　is　Vega；　that　star　in　Lyra　which　you　observe　near　the　zenith；　and　that　is

fifty　thousand　millions　of　leagues　distant。　Its　brightness；　therefore；　cannot　affect　your　vision。　But　our　own　sun；　which　will　rise　to…morrow；　is　only　distant　thirty…eight　millions　of　leagues；　and　no　human　eye　can　gaze　fix