第15部分(第3/7 頁)

nded　in　many　places　beneath　the　sonorous　vaults　of　New　Aberfoyle。 Harry　and　Nell　left　the　cottage；　and　slowly　walked　along　the　left　bank　of　Loch　Malcolm。

Then　the　electric　brilliance　darted　less　vividly；　and　the　rays　were　interrupted　with　fantastic　effect　by　the　sharp　angles　of　the　picturesque　rocks　which　supported　the　dome。 This　imperfect　light　suited　Nell；　to　whose　eyes　a　glare　was　very　unpleasant。

〃Nell；〃　said　Harry；　〃your　eyes　are　not　fit　for　daylight　yet；　and　could　not　bear　the　brightness　of　the　sun。〃

〃Indeed　they　could　not；〃　replied　the　girl；　〃if　the　sun　is　such　as　you　describe　it　to　me；　Harry。〃

〃I　cannot　by　any　words；　Nell；　give　you　an　idea　either　of　his　splendor　or　of　the　beauty　of　that　universe　which　your　eyes　have　never　beheld。　But　tell　me；　is　it　really　possible　that；　since　the　day　when　you　were　born　in　the　depths　of　the　coal　mine；　you　never　once　have　been　up　to　the　surface　of　the　earth？〃

〃Never　once；　Harry；〃　said　she；　〃I　do　not　believe　that；　even　as　an　infant；　my　father　or　mother　ever　carried　me　thither。　I　am　sure　I　should　have　retained　some　impression　of　the　open　air　if　they　had。〃

〃I　believe　you　would；〃　answered　Harry。 〃Long　ago；　Nell；　many　children　used　to　live　altogether　in　the　mine；　munication　was　then　difficult；　and　I　have　met　with　more　than　one　young　person；　quite　as　ignorant　as　you　are　of　things　above…ground。　But　now　the　railway　through　our　great　tunnel　takes　us　in　a　few　minutes　to　the　upper　regions　of　our　country。　I　long；　Nell；　to　hear　you　say；　'e；　Harry；　my　eyes　can　bear　daylight；　and　I　want　to　see　the　sun！ I　want　to　look　upon　the　works　of　the　Almighty。'〃

〃I　shall　soon　say　so；　Harry；　I　hope；〃　replied　the　girl；　〃I　shall　soon　go　with　you　to　the　world　above；　and　yet……〃

〃What　are　you　going　to　sa