按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ry； daylight dawned。 Nell now glanced towards the city； of which the outlines became more distinct。 Lofty monuments； slender steeples emerged from the gloom； a kind of ashy light was spread abroad。 At length one solitary ray struck on the maiden's sight。 It was that ray of green which； morning or evening； is reflected upwards from the sea when the horizon is clear。
An instant afterwards； Nell turned； and pointing towards a bright prominent point in the New Town； 〃Fire！〃 cried she。
〃No； Nell； that is no fire；〃 said Harry。 〃The sun has touched with gold the top of Sir Walter Scott's monument〃……and； indeed； the extreme point of the monument blazed like the light of a pharos。
It was day……the sun arose……his disc seemed to glitter as though he indeed emerged from the waters of the sea。 Appearing at first very large from the effects of refraction； he contracted as he rose and assumed the perfectly circular form。 Soon no eye could endure the dazzling splendor；
it was as though the mouth of a furnace was opened through the sky。
Nell closed her eyes； but her eyelids could not exclude the glare； and she pressed her fingers over them。 Harry advised her to turn in the opposite direction。 〃Oh； no；〃 said she； 〃my eyes must get used to look at what yours can bear to see！〃
Even through her hands Nell perceived a rosy light； which became more white as the sun rose above the horizon。 As her sight became accustomed to it； her eyelids were raised； and at length her eyes drank in the light of day。
The good child knelt down； exclaiming； 〃Oh Lord God！ how beautiful is Thy creation！〃 Then she rose and looked around。 At her feet extended the panorama of Edinburgh……the clear； distinct lines of streets in the New Town； and the irregular mass of houses； with their confused work of streets and lanes； which constitutes Auld Reekie； properly so called。 Two heights manded the entire city； Edinburgh Castle； crowning its huge basaltic rock； and the Calton Hill； bearing on its rounded summit； among other monuments； ruins built to represent those of the Parthenon at Athens。
Fine roadways led in all directions from the capital。 To the north； the coast of the noble Firth of Forth was indented by a deep bay； in which could be seen the seaport town of Leith； between which and this Modern Athens of the north ran a street； straight as that leading to the Piraeus。
Beyond the wide Firth could be seen the soft outlines of the county of Fife； while beneath the spectator stretched the yellow sands of Portobello and Newhaven。
Nell could not speak。 Her lips murmured a word or two indistinctly； she trembled； became giddy； her strength failed her； overe by the purity of the air and the sublimity of the scene； she sank fainting into Harry's arms； who； watching her closely； was ready to support her。
The youthful maiden； hitherto entombed in the massive depths of the earth； had now obtained an idea of the universe…… of the works both of God and of man。 She had looked upon town and country； and beyond these； into the immensity of the sea； the infinity of the heavens。
CHAPTER XV LOCH LOMOND AND LOCH KATRINE
HARRY bore Nell carefully down the steeps of Arthur's Seat； and； acpanied by James Starr and Jack Ryan； they reached Lambert's Hotel。 There a good breakfast restored their strength； and they began to make further plans for an excursion to the Highland lakes。
Nell was now refreshed； and able to look boldly forth into the sunshine； while her lungs with ease inhaled the free and healthful air。 Her eyes learned gladly to know the harmonious varieties of color as they rested on the green trees； the azure skies； and all the endless shades of lovely flowers and plants。
The railway train； which they entered at the Waverley Station； conveyed Nell and her friends to Glasgow。 There； from the new bridge across the Clyde； they watched the curious sea…like movement of the river。 After a night's rest at rie's Royal Hotel； they betook themselves to the terminus of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway； from whence a train would rapidly carry them； by way of Dumbarton and Balloch； to the southern extremity of Loch Lomond。
〃Now for the land of Rob Roy and Fergus MacIvor！……the scenery immortalized by the poetical descriptions of Walter Scott；〃 exclaimed James Starr。 〃You don't know this country； Jack？〃
〃Only by its songs； Mr。 Starr；〃 replied Jack； 〃and judging by those； it must be grand。〃
〃So it is； so it is！〃 cried the engineer； 〃and our dear Nell shall see it to the best advantage。〃
A steamboat； the SINCLAIR by name； awaited tourists about to make the excursion to the lakes。 Nell and her panions went on board。 The day had begun in brilliant sunshine； free from the British fogs which so often veil the skies。
The passengers were determined to lose none of the beauties of nature to be displayed during the thirty miles' voyage。 Nell； seated between James Starr and Harry； drank in with every faculty the magnificent poetry with which lovely Scottish scenery is fraught。 Numerous small isles and islets soon appeared； as though thickly sown on the bosom of the lake。 The SINCLAIR steamed her way among
371
them； while between them glimpses could be had of quiet valleys； or wild rocky gorges on the mainland。
〃Nell；〃 said James Starr； 〃every island here has its legend； perhaps its song； as well as the mountains which overshadow the lake。 One may； without much exaggeration； say that the history of this country is written in gigantic characters of mountains and islands。〃
Nell listened； but these fighting stories made her sad。 Why all that bloodshed on plains which to her seemed enormous； and where surely there must have been room for everybody？
The shores of the lake form a little harbor at Luss。 Nell could for a moment catch sight of the old tower of its ancient castle。 Then； the SINCLAIR turning northward； the tourists gazed upon Ben Lomond； towering nearly 3；000 feet above the level of the lake。
〃Oh； what a noble mountain！〃 cried Nell； 〃what a view there must be from the top！〃
〃Yes； Nell；〃 answered James Starr； 〃see how haughtily its peak rises from amidst the thicket of oaks； birches； and heather； which clothe the lower portion of the mountain！ From thence one may see two…thirds of old Caledonia。 This eastern side of the lake was the special abode of the clan McGregor。 At no great distance； the struggles of the Jacobites and Hanoverians repeatedly dyed with blood these lonely glens。 Over these scenes shines the pale moon； called in old ballads 'Macfarlane's lantern。' Among these rocks still echo the immortal names of Rob Roy and McGregor Campbell。〃
As the SINCLAIR advanced along the base of the mountain； the country became more and more abrupt in character。 Trees were only scattered here and there； among them were the willows； slender wands of which were formerly used for hanging persons of low degree。
〃To economize hemp；〃 remarked James Starr。
The lake narrowed very much as it stretched northwards。
The steamer passed a few more islets； Inveruglas； Eilad…whow； where stand some ruins of a stronghold of the clan MacFarlane。 At length the head of the loch was reached； and the SINCLAIR stopped at Inversnaid。
Leaving Loch Arklet on the left； a steep ascent led to the Inn of Stronachlacar； on the banks of Loch Katrine。
There； at the end of a light pier； floated a small steamboat； named； as a matter of course； the Rob Roy。 The travelers immediately went on board； it was about to start。 Loch Katrine is only ten miles in length； its width never exceeds two miles。 The hills nearest it are full of a character peculiar to themselves。
〃Here we are on this famous lake；〃 said James Starr。 〃It has been pared to an eel on account of its length and windings： and justly so。 They say that it never freezes。 I know nothing about that； but what we want to think of is； that here are the scenes of the adventures in the Lady of the Lake。 I believe； if friend Jack looked about him carefully； he might see； still gliding over the surface of the water； the shade of the slender form of sweet Ellen Douglas。〃
〃To be sure； Mr。 Starr；〃 replied Jack； 〃why should I not？ I may just as well see that pretty girl on the waters of Loch Katrine； as those ugly ghosts on Loch Malcolm in the coal pit。〃
It was by this time three o'clock in the afternoon。 The less hilly shores of Loch Katrine westward extended like a picture framed between Ben An and Ben Venue。 At the distance of half a mile was the entrance to the narrow bay； where was the landing…place for our tourists； who meant to return to Stirling by Callander。
Nell appeared pletely worn out by the continued excitement of the day。 A faint ejaculation was all she was able to utter in token of admiration as new objects of wonder or beauty met her gaze。 She required some hours of rest； were it but to impress lastingly the recollection of all she had seen。
Her hand rested in Harry's； and； looking earnestly at her； he said； 〃Nell； dear Nell； we shall soon be home again in the gloomy region of the coal mine。 Shall you not pine for what you have seen during these few hours spent in the glorious light of day？〃
〃No； Harry；〃 replied the girl； 〃I shall like to think about it； b