第17部分(第5/7 頁)

bank。 A　boatman　awaited　them。　Nell　and　her　friends　took　their　seats；　the　sail　was　spread；　it　quickly　filled　before　the　northwesterly　breeze；　and　they　sped　on　their　way。

What　a　new　sensation　was　this　for　the　maiden！ She　had　been　rowed　on　the　waters　of　Lake　Malcolm；　but　the　oar；　handled　ever　so　lightly　by　Harry；　always　betrayed　effort　on　the　part　of　the　oarsman。 Now；　for　the　first　time；　Nell　felt　herself　borne　along　with　a　gliding　movement；　like　that　of　a　balloon　through　the　air。 The　water　was　smooth　as　a　lake；　and　Nell　reclined　in　the　stern　of　the　boat；　enjoying　its　gentle　rocking。　Occasionally　the　effect　of　the

moonlight　on　the　waters　was　as　though　the　boat　sailed　across　a　glittering　silver　field。 Little　wavelets　rippled　along　the　banks。　It　was　enchanting。

At　length　Nell　was　overe　with　drowsiness；　her　eyelids　drooped；　her　head　sank　on　Harry's　shoulder……she　slept。 Harry；　sorry　that　she　should　miss　any　of　the　beauties　of　this　magnificent　night；　would　have　aroused　her。

〃Let　her　sleep！〃　said　the　engineer。 〃She　will　better　enjoy　the　novelties　of　the　day　after　a　couple　of　hours'　rest。〃

At　two　o'clock　in　the　morning　the　boat　reached　Granton　pier。　Nell　awoke。 〃Have　I　been　asleep？〃　inquired　she。

〃No；　my　child；〃　said　James　Starr。 〃You　have　been　dreaming　that　you　slept；　that's　all。〃

The　night　continued　clear。 The　moon；　riding　in　mid…heaven；　diffused　her　rays　on　all　sides。 In　the　little　port　of　Granton　lay　two　or　three　fishing　boats；　they　rocked　gently　on　the　waters　of　the　Firth。 The　wind　fell　as　the　dawn　approached。　The　atmosphere；　clear　of　mists；　promised　one　of　those　fine　autumn　days　so　delicious　on　the　sea　coast。

A　soft；　transparent　film　of　vapor　lay　along　the　horizon；　the　first　sunbeam　would　dissipate　it；　to　t