第17部分(第3/7 頁)

edly　upon　that；　for　it　is　brighter　than　the　blaze　of　any　furnace。　But　e；　Nell；　e！〃

They　pursued　their　way；　James　Starr　leading　the　maiden；　Harry　walking　by　her　side；　while　Jack　Ryan　roamed　about　like　a　young　dog；　impatient　of　the　slow　pace　of　his　masters。 The　road　was　lonely。　Nell　kept　looking　at　the　great　trees；　whose　branches；　waving　in　the　wind；　made　them　seem　to　her　like　giants　gesticulating　wildly。　The　sound　of　the　breeze　in　the　tree…tops；　the　deep　silence　during　a　lull；　the　distant　line　of　the　horizon；　which　could　be　discerned　when　the　road　passed　over　open　levels……all　these　things　filled　her　with　new　sensations；　and　left　lasting　impressions　on　her　mind。

After　some　time　she　ceased　to　ask　questions；　and　her　panions　respected　her　silence；　not　wishing　to　influence　by　any　words　of　theirs　the　girl's　highly　sensitive　imagination；　but　preferring　to　allow　ideas　to　arise　spontaneously　in　her　soul。

At　about　half　past　eleven　o'clock；　they　gained　the　banks　of　the　river　Forth。 There　a　boat；　chartered　by　James　Starr；　awaited　them。　In　a　few　hours　it　would　convey　them　all　to　Granton。 Nell　looked　at　the　clear　water　which　flowed　up　to　her　feet；　as　the　waves　broke　gently　on　the　beach；　reflecting　the　starlight。　〃Is　this　a　lake？〃　said　she。

〃No；〃　replied　Harry；　〃it　is　a　great　river　flowing　towards　the　sea；　and　soon　opening　so　widely　as　to　resemble　a　gulf。　Taste　a　little　of　the　water　in　the　hollow　of　your　hand；　Nell；　and　you　will　perceive　that　it　is　not　sweet　like　the　waters　of　Lake　Malcolm。〃

The　maiden　bent　towards　the　stream；　and；　raising　a　little　water　to　her　lips；　〃This　is　quite　salt；〃　said　she。

〃Yes；　the　tide　is　full；　the　sea　water　flows　up　the　river　as　far　as　this；〃　answered　Harry。

〃Oh；　Harry！ Harry！〃　exclaimed　the　maiden；　〃what