Chapter

  1 XII  |                      CHAPTER XII NELL ADOPTED~A COUPLE of hours
  2 XII  |        you, my dear?” said she.~“Nell,” replied the girl.~“Do
  3 XII  |    anything the matter with you, Nell?”~“I am hungry. I have eaten
  4 XII  |      eaten nothing since—since—”~Nell uttered these few words
  5 XII  |         dearie?” inquired Madge.~Nell made no answer; she seemed
  6 XII  |         think?”~“Days?” repeated Nell, as though the word had
  7 XII  |           smiling kindly at her.~Nell shook her head again.~“Yes,
  8 XII  |     years old?”~“Years?” replied Nell. She seemed to understand
  9 XII  |     stranger. He drew near, took Nell’s hand from his mother,
 10 XII  |         a smile curved her lip. “Nell,” he said, “Nell, away down
 11 XII  |       her lip. “Nell,” he said, “Nell, away down there—in the
 12 XII  |         let her go to sleep.” So Nell was left alone, and in a
 13 XII  |         from their stony prison. Nell became a fashionable wonder
 14 XII  |       Jack Ryan told Harry, that Nell was the spirit of the mines.~“
 15 XII  |       knew.~As to whether or not Nell had lived alone in the recesses
 16 XII  |        this strange girl. Either Nell could not or would not reply
 17 XII  |        there concocted mischief, Nell surely could have warned
 18 XII  |       her by-and-by.~By the time Nell had been a fortnight in
 19 XII  |        the good folks themselves Nell had seemed an adopted child
 20 XII  |         came beneath their roof. Nell was in truth a charming
 21 XII  |        the cottage. He sang, and Nell, who had never heard singing
 22 XII  |         must be said that, since Nell had appeared in her own
 23 XII  |      still?”~“I say yes; because Nell trembles when we mention
 24 XII  |       mention them— yes, because Nell will not, or dare not, speak
 25 XII  |        the mine, and that, as to Nell, they must suppose her to
 26 XII  |       subject, often repeating, “Nell has clearly been mixed up
 27 XII  |         was led to make known to Nell what James Starr, his father,
 28 XII  |         New Aberfoyle. Harry and Nell left the cottage, and slowly
 29 XII  |      This imperfect light suited Nell, to whose eyes a glare was
 30 XII  |      glare was very unpleasant.~“Nell,” said Harry, “your eyes
 31 XII  |           I cannot by any words, Nell, give you an idea either
 32 XII  |       answered Harry. “Long ago, Nell, many children used to live
 33 XII  |          of our country. I long, Nell, to hear you say, ‘Come,
 34 XII  |       What are you going to say, Nell?” hastily cried Harry; “
 35 XII  |             No, Harry,” answered Nell; “I was only thinking that
 36 XII  |         And were you not afraid, Nell, all alone there?”~“It was
 37 XII  |          that I was not afraid.”~Nell’s voice altered slightly
 38 XII  |        in these great galleries, Nell. Were you not afraid of
 39 XII  |    murmured the maiden.~“Why so, Nell? Was it not just because
 40 XII  |       not enable us to find you, Nell, to save your life, and
 41 XII  |    whatever may happen,” replied Nell earnestly; “for others—who
 42 XII  |       her.~“Yes, lost!” repeated Nell in a trembling voice. “They
 43 XII  |      were at the point of death, Nell; and, but for a kind and
 44 XII  |           my father, and myself, Nell!”~Nell looked up hastily,
 45 XII  |       father, and myself, Nell!”~Nell looked up hastily, seized
 46 XII  |        none other than yourself, Nell!”~Nell hid her face in her
 47 XII  |      other than yourself, Nell!”~Nell hid her face in her hands
 48 XII  |       Those who saved your life, Nell,” added he in a voice tremulous
 49 XIII |     entertained by Harry towards Nell. Harry would not confess
 50 XIII |          to be of the party when Nell should pay her first visit
 51 XIII |     nothing till you tell me how Nell is,” interrupted Jack Ryan.~“
 52 XIII |          interrupted Jack Ryan.~“Nell is all right, Jack—so much
 53 XIII |         an immense deal of bonny Nell! A fine young creature like
 54 XIII |           But if you don’t marry Nell yourself, you surely can’
 55 XIII |        in earnest just now about Nell?”~“No, that I don’t, Jack.”~“
 56 XIII |        Well, look here! You love Nell as heartily as she deserves.
 57 XIII |    running on as if you knew how Nell felt on the subject.”~“Everybody
 58 XIII |       pretend that I do not love Nell; I wish above all things
 59 XIII |      this—that, it being certain Nell has never been outside this
 60 XIII |           that, before you marry Nell, she shall go to school
 61 XIII |      resumed Harry, “I wish that Nell should gain a real knowledge
 62 XIII |     exclaimed Jack.~“Well, Jack, Nell is at present blind; and
 63 XIII |           Jack,” replied Harry. “Nell is getting used to the light
 64 XIII |         be one of the party when Nell’s first excursion to the
 65 XIII |          I say! do you know what Nell will like better than either
 66 XIII |       spare time, to the work of Nell’s education. He taught her
 67 XIII |          this union of Harry and Nell as much as Simon did—and
 68 XIII |    mystery about the new cutting—Nell was evidently the only person
 69 XIII |      knowing the cause of them?~“Nell has persisted in keeping
 70 XIV  |          Ryan were about to lead Nell’s steps over yet untrodden
 71 XIV  |        have been glad to go with Nell; but they never left their
 72 XIV  |      novel impressions made upon Nell; perhaps also with some
 73 XIV  |       for letting him join them. Nell was pensive and silent.~
 74 XIV  |        as they left the cottage, Nell took Harry’s hand saying, “
 75 XIV  |          few days?”~“Yes, it is, Nell,” replied the young man. “
 76 XIV  |             But, Harry,” resumed Nell, “ever since you found me,
 77 XIV  |        looked at her in silence. Nell was giving utterance to
 78 XIV  |       freely. Come!”~“Come, dear Nell!” cried Harry.~“Harry, I
 79 XIV  |         tunnel started to convey Nell and her companions to the
 80 XIV  |  likewise.~On reaching Stirling, Nell and her friends, quitting
 81 XIV  |       lungs.~“Breathe it freely, Nell,” said James Starr; “it
 82 XIV  |        over our heads?” inquired Nell.~“Those are clouds,” answered
 83 XIV  |       westerly wind.”~“Ah!” said Nell, “how I should like to feel
 84 XIV  |     stars I have told you about, Nell. So many suns they are,
 85 XIV  |      deep blue of the firmament. Nell gazed upon the myriad stars
 86 XIV  |        of any furnace. But come, Nell, come!”~They pursued their
 87 XIV  |    masters. The road was lonely. Nell kept looking at the great
 88 XIV  |      convey them all to Granton. Nell looked at the clear water
 89 XIV  |         the hollow of your hand, Nell, and you will perceive that
 90 XIV  |           it is the rising moon, Nell.”~“To be sure, that’s the
 91 XIV  | beautiful all this is!” repeated Nell again and again, with her
 92 XIV  |       influence of her radiance. Nell gazed in silence on the
 93 XIV  |          A boatman awaited them. Nell and her friends took their
 94 XIV  |         Now, for the first time, Nell felt herself borne along
 95 XIV  |        was smooth as a lake, and Nell reclined in the stern of
 96 XIV  |        was enchanting.~At length Nell was overcome with drowsiness,
 97 XIV  |       boat reached Granton pier. Nell awoke. “Have I been asleep?”
 98 XIV  |  infinity of ocean.~Harry taking Nell’s hand, they followed James
 99 XIV  |         the deserted streets. To Nell, this suburb of the capital
100 XIV  |       Harry. “Are you not tired, Nell?” asked he, after half an
101 XIV  |     cried Jack Ryan. “Our little Nell is too good to lose. I feel
102 XIV  |           Is that what you feel, Nell?”~“Yes, Mr. Starr, it is
103 XIV  |         exactly like that,” said Nell. “It makes me feel giddy.”~“
104 XIV  |         will soon get over that, Nell,” said Harry. “You will
105 XIV  |          No, Harry, never!” said Nell, and she put her hand over
106 XIV  |      still lay wrapt in slumber.~Nell pointed to a large building
107 XIV  |      that?”~“That confused mass, Nell, is the palace of the ancient
108 XIV  |        When day breaks, however, Nell, this palace will not look
109 XIV  |         summit of Arthur’s Seat, Nell, your eyes shall behold
110 XIV  |        neighborhood.’ Now watch, Nell! the sun will soon appear,
111 XIV  |          fiery, daylight dawned. Nell now glanced towards the
112 XIV  |           An instant afterwards, Nell turned, and pointing towards
113 XIV  |           Fire!” cried she.~“No, Nell, that is no fire,” said
114 XIV  |          opened through the sky.~Nell closed her eyes, but her
115 XIV  |           Even through her hands Nell perceived a rosy light,
116 XIV  |         Portobello and Newhaven.~Nell could not speak. Her lips
117 XV   |          LOCH KATRINE~HARRY bore Nell carefully down the steeps
118 XV   | excursion to the Highland lakes.~Nell was now refreshed, and able
119 XV   |       Waverley Station, conveyed Nell and her friends to Glasgow.
120 XV   |          engineer, “and our dear Nell shall see it to the best
121 XV   |          excursion to the lakes. Nell and her companions went
122 XV   |        the thirty miles’ voyage. Nell, seated between James Starr
123 XV   |         gorges on the mainland.~“Nell,” said James Starr, “every
124 XV   |          mountains and islands.”~Nell listened, but these fighting
125 XV   |         a little harbor at Luss. Nell could for a moment catch
126 XV   |         a noble mountain!” cried Nell; “what a view there must
127 XV   |          be from the top!”~“Yes, Nell,” answered James Starr; “
128 XV   |        to Stirling by Callander.~Nell appeared completely worn
129 XV   |      earnestly at her, he said, “Nell, dear Nell, we shall soon
130 XV   |        her, he said, “Nell, dear Nell, we shall soon be home again
131 XV   |          to our dear old home.”~“Nell!” said Harry, vainly attempting
132 XV   |         tie? Could you marry me, Nell?”~“Yes, Harry, I could,
133 XVI  |          the old couple spoke of Nell, of their boy, of Mr. Starr,
134 XVI  |      having invaded his domain.”~Nell was allowed to hear as little
135 XVI  |     enemy in the world.”~“Ah! if Nell would only speak!” cried
136 XVI  |          not to question my poor Nell. I know she is very anxious
137 XVI  |    engineer; “and yet I must say Nell’s silence, if she knows
138 XVI  |        you undertake the part of Nell’s father?”~“You may reckon
139 XVI  |       loch the less in Scotland.~Nell gradually resumed her customary
140 XVI  |   approaching union of Harry and Nell actually provoked one catastrophe
141 XVI  |          were equally careful of Nell, although, at Harry’s entreaty,
142 XVI  |      would be disarmed, and that Nell would never feel safe until
143 XVI  |         that nothing relating to Nell was indifferent to this
144 XVI  |      appointed for the ceremony, Nell, rising early, went out
145 XVI  |          Simon were at her side. Nell was pale as death, her countenance
146 XVI  |       your son, has robbed me of Nell. Woe betide you! Woe betide
147 XVI  |       maiden.~“Silfax!” repeated Nell in tones of despair, “Silfax!”—
148 XVII |          now that this child was Nell. During the fifteen years,
149 XVII |        by the kind assistance of Nell, who acted of course without
150 XVII |       have terrified poor little Nell, and also I see that she
151 XVII |          rope by which Harry and Nell were suspended.”~“And then,
152 XVII |        Simon. “To think that his Nell should marry one of the
153 XVII |      manage to convince him that Nell is better off with us here
154 XVII |         positively must question Nell. She will perceive that
155 XVII |            answered Harry, “that Nell will of herself propose
156 XVII |         room in which they were. Nell was very pale; traces of
157 XVII |     heart dictated as her duty.~“Nell!” cried Harry, springing
158 XVII |       drew from the abyss.”~“Oh, Nell! what are you saying?” cried
159 XVII |          of old Silfax,” resumed Nell. “I never knew a mother
160 XVII |       saw Simon Ford,” continued Nell; “nor friend till the day
161 XVII |          grandfather,” continued Nell, “always regarded your abode
162 XVII |        make me tremble.”~“Go on, Nell, my child,” said Simon to
163 XVII |          first attempt,” resumed Nell, “as soon as my grandfather
164 XVII |      certain death to you all!”~“Nell!” cried Harry.~“No,” continued
165 XVII |         tones of despair, “What, Nell! is it possible you would
166 XVII |        and, going straight up to Nell, he took both her hands
167 XVII |          quite impossible,” said Nell. “My grandfather is everywhere
168 XVII |        renounce and curse him.”~“Nell, do you hear what our mother
169 XVII |             Harry! Harry!” cried Nell.~Overcome by her feelings,
170 XVIII|                    CHAPTER XVIII NELL’S WEDDING~IT was agreed
171 XVIII|          was made known to them. Nell was informed of all the
172 XVIII|       vindictively declared that Nell should never marry Simon’
173 XVIII|     himself would have approved.~Nell had resolved to show nothing
174 XVIII|          present. Then Harry and Nell remained alone before the
175 XVIII|       say, “Harry, will you take Nell to be your wife, and will
176 XVIII|          steady voice.~“And you, Nell,” continued the minister, “
177 XVIII|          to stop the marriage of Nell and Harry by overwhelming
178 XVIII|       would be no more.~Suddenly Nell sprang from Harry’s arms,
179 XVIII|           Presently, recognizing Nell’s voice, it dropped the
180 XVIII|          oh, save him!” shrieked Nell in a voice of agony. Immediately
181 XIX  |   needless to say that Harry and Nell were happy. These loving
182 XIX  |       After the old man’s death, Nell had attempted to keep the
183 XIX  |       him for having carried off Nell from the deep abyss, notwithstanding
184 XIX  |        Still, at long intervals, Nell would see the creature hovering