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　to　be　dead　at　the　bottom　of　the　shaft　where　they　had　left　her。

While　it　remained　unworked；　the　mine　had　been　a　safe　enough　place　of　refuge；　secure　from　all　search　or　pursuit。　　But　now；　circumstances　being　altered；　it　became　difficult　to　conceal　this　lurking…place；　and　it　might　reasonably　be　hoped　they　were　gone；　and　that　nothing　for　the　future　was　to　be　dreaded　from　them。

James　Starr；　however；　could　not　feel　sure　about　it；　neither　could　Harry　be　satisfied　on　the　subject；　often　repeating；　〃Nell　has　clearly　been　mixed　up　with　all　this　secret　business。　If　she　had　nothing　more　to　fear；　why　should　she　keep　silence？　It　cannot　be　doubted　that　she　is　happy　with　us。　　She　likes　us　all……　she　adores　my　mother。　　Her　absolute　silence　as　to　her　former　life；　when　by　speaking　out　she　might　benefit　us；　proves　to　me　that　some　awful　secret；　which　she　dares　not　reveal；　weighs　on　her　mind。　It　may　also　be　that　she　believes　it　better　for　us；　as　well　as　for　herself；　that　she　should　remain　mute　in　a　way　otherwise　so　unaccountable。〃


In　consequence　of　these　opinions；　it　was　agreed　by　mon　consent　to　avoid　all　allusion　to　the　maiden's　former　mode　of　life。　One　day；　however；　Harry　was　led　to　make　known　to　Nell　what　James　Starr；　his　father；　mother；　and　himself　believed　they　owed　to　her　interference。

It　was　a　fete…day。　The　miners　made　holiday　on　the　surface　of　the　county　of　Stirling　as　well　as　in　its　subterraneous　domains。　Parties　of　holiday…makers　were　moving　about　in　all　directions。　Songs　resounded　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　say；　Nell？〃　hastily　cried　Harry；　〃can　you　possibly　regret　having　quitted　that　gloomy　abyss　in　which　you　spent　your　early　years；　and　whence　we　drew　you　half　dead？〃

〃No；　Harry；〃　answered　Nell；　〃I　was　only　thinking　that　darkness　is　beautiful　as　well　as　light。　　If　you　but　knew　what　eyes　accustomed　to　its　depth　can　see！　　Shades　flit　by；　which　one　longs　to　follow；　circles　mingle　and　intertwine；　and　one　could　gaze　on　them　forever；　black　hollows；　full　of　indefinite　gleams　of　radiance；　lie　deep　at　the　bottom　of　the　mine。　　And　then　the　voice…like　sounds！　Ah；　Harry！　one　must　have　lived　down　there　to　understand　what　I　feel；　what　I　can　never　express。〃

〃And　were　you　not　afraid；　Nell；　all　alone　there？〃

〃It　was　just　when　I　was　alone　that　I　was　not　afraid。〃

Nell's　voice　altered　slightly　as　she　said　these　words；　however；　Harry　thought　he　might　press　the　subject　a　little　further；　so　he　said；　〃But　one　might　be　easily　lost　in　these　great　galleries；　Nell。　　Were　you　not　afraid　of　losing　your　way？〃

〃Oh；　no；　Harry；　for　a　long　time　I　had　known　every　turn　of　the　new　mine。〃

〃Did　you　never　leave　it？〃

〃Yes；　now　and　then；〃　answered　the　girl　with　a　little　hesitation；　〃sometimes　I　have　been　as　far　as　the　old　mine　of　Aberfoyle。〃

〃So　you　knew　our　old　cottage？〃

〃The　cottage！　oh；　yes；　but　the　people　who　lived　there　I　only　saw　at　a　great　distance。〃

〃They　were　my　father　and　mother；〃　said　Harry；　〃and　I　was　there　too；　we　have　always　lived　there……we　never　would　give　up　the　old　dwelling。〃

〃Perhaps　it　would　have　been　better　for　you　if　you　had；〃　murmured　the　maiden。

〃Why　so；　Nell？　　Was　it　not　just　because　we　were　obstinately　resolved　to　remain　that　we　ended　by　discovering　the　new　vein　of　coal？　And　did　not　that　discovery　lead　to　the　happy　result　of　providing　work　for　a　large　population；　and　restoring　them　to　ease　and　fort？　and　did　it　not　enable　us　to　find　you；　Nell；　to　save　your　life；　and　give　you　the　love　of　all　our　hearts？〃

〃Ah；　yes；　for　me　indeed　it　is　well；　whatever　may　happen；〃　replied　Nell　earnestly；　〃for　others……who　can　tell？〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Oh；　nothing……nothing。　　But　it　used　to　be　very　dangerous　at　that　time　to　go　into　the　new　cutting……yes；　very　dangerous　indeed；　Harry！　　Once　some　rash　people　made　their　way　into　these　chasms。　　They　got　a　long；　long　way；　they　were　lost！〃

〃They　were　lost？〃　said　Harry；　looking　at　her。

〃Yes；　lost！〃　repeated　Nell　in　a　trembling　voice。　〃They　could　not　find　their　way　out。〃

〃And　there；〃　cried　Harry；　〃they　were　imprisoned　during　eight　long　days！　They　were　at　the　point　of　death；　Nell；　and；　but　for　a　kind　and　charitable　being……an　angel　perhaps……sent　by　God　to　help　them；　who　secretly　brought　them　a　little　food；　but　for　a　mysterious　guide；　who　afterwards　led　to　them　their　deliverers；　they　never　would　have　escaped　from　that　living　tomb！〃

〃And　how　do　you　know　about　that？〃　demanded　the　girl。

〃Because　those　men　were　James　Starr；　my　father；　and　myself；　Nell！〃

Nell　looked　up　hastily；　seized　the　young　man's　hand；　and　gazed　so　fixedly　into　his　eyes　that　his　feelings　were　stirred　to　their　depths。　〃You　were　there？〃　at　last　she　uttered。

〃I　was　indeed；〃　said　Harry；　after　a　pause；　〃and　she　to　whom　we　owe　our　lives　can　have　been　none　other　than　yourself；　Nell！〃

Nell　hid　her　face　in　her　hands　without　speaking。　Harry　had　never　seen　her　so　much　affected。

〃Those　who　saved　your　life；　Nell；〃　added　he　in　a　voice　tremulous　with　emotion；　〃already　owed　theirs　to　you；　do　you　think　they　will　ever　forget　it？〃


CHAPTER　XIII　ON　THE　REVOLVING　LADDER


THE　mining　operations　at　New　Aberfoyle　continued　to　be　carried　on　very　successfully。　　As　a　matter　of　course；　the　engineer；　James　Starr；　as　well　as　Simon　Ford；　the　discoverers　of　this　rich　carboniferous　region；　shared　largely　in　the　profits。

In　time　Harry　became　a　partner。　　But　he　never　thought

of　quitting　the　cottage。　　He　took　his　father's　place　as　overman；　and　diligently　superintended　the　works　of　this　colony　of　miners。　Jack　Ryan　was　proud　and　delighted　at　the　good　fortune　which　had　befallen　his　rade。　　He　himself　was　getting　on　very　well　also。

They　frequently　met；　either　at　the　cottage　or　at　the　works　in　the　pit。　Jack　did　not　fail　to　remark　the　sentiments　entertained　by　Harry　towards　Nell。　　Harry　would　not　confess　to　them；　but　Jack　only　laughed　at　him　when　he　shook　his　head　and　tried　to　deny　any　special　interest　in　her。

It　must　be　noted　that　Jack　Ryan　had　the　greatest　possible　wish　to　be　of　the　party　when　Nell　should　pay　her　first　visit　to　the　upper　surface　of　the　county　of　Stirling。　　He　wished　to　see　her　wonder　and　admiration　on　first　beholding　the　yet　unknown　face　of　Nature。　　He　very　much　hoped　that　Harry　would　take　him　with　them　when　the　excursion　was　made。　As　yet；　however；　the　latter　had　made　no　proposal　of　the　kind　to　him；　which　caused　him　to　feel　a　little　uneasy　as　to　his　intentions。

One　morning　Jack　Ryan　was　descending　through　a　shaft　which　led　from　the　surface　to　the　lower　regions　of　the　pit。　　He　did　so　by　means　of　one　of　those　ladders　which；　continually　revolving　by　machinery；　enabled　persons　to　ascend　and　descend　without　fatigue。　This　apparatus　had　lowered　him　about　a　hundred　and　fifty　feet；　when　at　a　narrow　landing…place　he　perceived　Harry；　who　was　ing　up　to　his　labors　for　the　day。

〃Well　met；　my　friend！〃　cried　Jack；　recognizing　his　rade　by　the　light　of　the　electric　lamps。

〃Ah；　Jack！〃　replied　Harry；　〃I　am　glad　to　see　you。　I've　got　something　to　propose。〃

〃I　can　listen　to　nothing　till　you　tell　me　how　Nell　is；〃　interrupted　Jack　Ryan。

〃Nell　is　all　right；　Jack……so　much　so；　in　fact；　that　I　hope　in　a　month　or　six　weeks……〃

〃To　marry　her；　Harry？〃

〃Jack；　you　don't　know　what　you　are　talking　about！〃

〃Ah；　that's　very　likely；　but　I　know　quite　well　what　I　shall　do。〃

〃What　will　you　do？〃

〃Marry　her　myself；　if　you　don't；　so　look　sharp；〃　laughed　Jack。　　〃By　Saint　Mungo！　　I　think　an　immense　deal　of

bonny　Nell！　　A　fine　young　creature　like　that；　who　has　been　brought　up　in　the　mine；　is　just　the　very　wife　for　a　miner。　She　is　an　orphan……so　am　I；　and　if　you　don't　care　much　for　her；　and　if　she　will　have　me……〃

Harry　looked　gravely　at　Jack；　and　let　him　talk　on　without　trying　to　stop　him。　　〃Don't　you　begin　to　feel　jealous；　Harry？〃　asked　Jack　in　a　more　serious　tone。

〃Not　at　all；〃　answered　Harry　quietly。

〃But　if　you　don't　marry　Nell　yourself；　you　surely　can't　expect　her　to　remain　a　spinster？〃

〃I　expect　nothing；〃　said　Harry。

A　movement　of　the　ladder　machinery　now　gave　the　two　friends　the　opportunity……one　to　go　up；　the　other　down　the　shaft。　However；　they　remained　where　they　were。

〃Harry；〃　quoth　Jack；　〃do　you　think　I　spoke　in　earnest　just　now　about　Nell？〃

〃No；　that　I　don't；　Jack。〃

〃Well；　but　now　I　will！〃

〃You？　speak　in　earnest？〃

〃My　good　fellow；　I　can　tell　you　I　am　quite　capable　of　giving　a　friend　a　bit　of　advice。〃

〃Let's　hear；　then；　Jack！〃

〃Well；　look　here！　　You　love　Nell　as　heartily　as　she　deserves。　Old　Simon；　your　father；　and　old　Madge；　your　mother；　both　love　her　as　if　she　were　their　daughter。　　Why　don't　you　make　her　so　in　reality？　Why　don't　you　marry　her？〃

〃e；　Jack；〃　said　Harry；　〃you　are　running　on　as　if　you　knew　how　Nell　felt　on　the　subject。〃

〃Everybody　knows　that；〃　replied　Jack；　〃and　therefore　it　is　impossible　to　make　you　jealous　of　any　of　us。　　But　here　goes　the　ladder　again……I'm　off！〃

〃Stop　a　minute；　Jack！〃　cried　Harry；　detaining　his　panion；　who　was　stepping　onto　the　moving　staircase。

〃I　say！　you　seem　to　mean　me　to　take　up　my　quarters　here　altogether！〃

〃Do　be　serious　and　listen；　Jack！　　I　want　to　speak　in　earnest　myself　now。〃

〃Well；　I'll　listen　till　the　ladder　moves　again；　not　a　minute　longer。〃

〃Jack；〃　resumed　Harry；　〃I　need　not　pretend　that　I　do　not　love　Nell；　I　wish　above　all　things　to　make　her　my　wife。〃


〃That's　all　right！〃

〃But　for　the　present　I　have　scruples　of　conscience　as　to　asking　her　to　make　me　a　promise　which　would　be　irrevocable。〃

〃What　can　you　mean；　Harry？〃

〃I　mean　just　this……that；　it　being　certain　Nell　has　never　been　outside　this　coal　mine　in　the　very　depths　of　which　she　was　born；　it　stands　to　reason　that　she　knows　nothing；　and　can　prehend　nothing　of　what　exists　beyond　it。　Her　eyes……yes；　and　perhaps　also　her　heart……have　everything　yet　to　learn。　　Who　can　tell　what　her　thoughts　will　be；　when　perfectly　new　impressions　shall　be　made　upon　her　mind？　As　yet　she　knows　nothing　of　the　world；　and　to　me　it　would　seem　like　deceiving　her；　if　I　led　her　to　decide　in　ignorance；　upon　choosing　to　remain　all　her　life　in　the　coal　mine。　Do　you　understand　me；　Jack？〃

〃Hem！……yes……pretty　well。　　What　I　understand　best　is　that　you　are　going　to　make　me　miss　another　turn　of　the　ladder。〃

〃Jack；〃　replied　Harry　gravely；　〃if　this　machinery　were　to　stop　altogether；　if　this　landing…place　were　to　fall　beneath　our　feet；　you　must　and　shall　hear　what　I　have　to　say。〃

〃Well　done；　Harry！　that's　how　I　like　to　be　spoken　to！　Let's　settle；　then；　that；　before　you　marry　Nell；　she　shall　go　to　school　in　Auld　Reekie。〃

〃No　indeed；　Jack；　I　am　perfectly　able　myself　to　educate　the　person　who　is