第17部分(第6/7 頁)

he　maiden　it　exhibited　that　aspect　of　the　sea　which　seems　to　blend　it　with　the　sky。　Her　view　was　now　enlarged；　without　producing　the　impression　of　the　boundless　infinity　of　ocean。

Harry　taking　Nell's　hand；　they　followed　James　Starr　and　Jack　Ryan　as　they　traversed　the　deserted　streets。 To　Nell；　this　suburb　of　the　capital　appeared　only　a　collection　of　gloomy　dark　houses；　just　like　Coal　Town；　only　that　the　roof　was　higher；　and　gleamed　with　small　lights。

She　stepped　lightly　forward；　and　easily　kept　pace　with　Harry。 〃Are　you　not　tired；　Nell？〃　asked　he；　after　half　an　hour's　walking。

〃No！　my　feet　seem　scarcely　to　touch　the　earth；〃　returned　she。　〃This　sky　above　us　seems　so　high　up；　I　feel　as　if　I　could　take　wing　and　fly！〃

〃I　say！　keep　hold　of　her！〃　cried　Jack　Ryan。 〃Our　little　Nell　is　too　good　to　lose。 I　feel　just　as　you　describe　though；　myself；　when　I　have　not　left　the　pit　for　a　long　time。〃

〃It　is　when　we　no　longer　experience　the　oppressive　effect　of　the　vaulted　rocky　roof　above　Coal　Town；〃　said

James　Starr；　〃that　the　spacious　firmament　appears　to　us　like　a　profound　abyss　into　which　we　have；　as　it　were；　a　desire　to　plunge。　Is　that　what　you　feel；　Nell？〃

〃Yes；　Mr。　Starr；　it　is　exactly　like　that；〃　said　Nell。 〃It　makes　me　feel　giddy。〃

〃Ah！　you　will　soon　get　over　that；　Nell；〃　said　Harry。 〃You　will　get　used　to　the　outer　world；　and　most　likely　forget　all　about　our　dark　coal　pit。〃

〃No；　Harry；　never！〃　said　Nell；　and　she　put　her　hand　over　her　eyes；　as　though　she　would　recall　the　remembrance　of　everything　she　had　lately　quitted。

Between　the　silent　dwellings　of　the　city；　the　party　passed　along　Leith　Walk；　and　went　round　the　Calton　Hill；　where　stood；　in　the　light　of　the　gray　dawn；　the　buildings　of　the　Observatory　a