Part 18 (1/2)
After some time she ceased to ask questions, and her co to influence by any words of theirs the girl's highly sensitive i to allow ideas to arise spontaneously in her soul
At about half past eleven o'clock, they gained the banks of the river Forth There a boat, chartered by James Starr, awaited them In a few hours it would convey them all to Granton Nell looked at the clear water which flowed up to her feet, as the waves broke gently on the beach, reflecting the starlight ”Is this a lake?” said she
”No,” replied Harry, ”it is a great river flowing towards the sea, and soon opening so widely as to reseulf Taste a little of the water in the hollow of your hand, Nell, and you will perceive that it is not sweet like the waters of Lake Malcol a little water to her lips, ”This is quite salt,” said she
”Yes, the tide is full; the sea water flows up the river as far as this,” answered Harry
”Oh, Harry! Harry!” exclailow on the horizon be? Is it a forest on fire?”
”No, it is the rising moon, Nell”
”To be sure, that's thesilver plate, which the spirits of air hand round and round the sky to collect the stars in, like , ”I had no idea you could strike out such bold comparisons!”
”Well, but, Mr Starr, it is a just comparison Don't you see the stars disappear as the moon passes on? so I suppose they drop into it”
”What you mean to say, Jack, is that the superior brilliancy of the nitude, therefore they vanish as she approaches”
”How beautiful all this is!” repeated Nell again and again, with her whole soul in her eyes ”But I thought the moon was round?”
”So she is, when 'full,'” said James Starr; ”that ht the moon is in the last quarter, shorn of her just proportions, and friend Jack's grand silver plate looks more like a barber's basin”
”Oh, Mr Starr, what a base coin a sonnet to the moon, but your barber's basin has destroyed all chance of an inspiration”
Gradually theclouds fled ahile stars still sparkled in the west, beyond the influence of her radiance Nell gazed in silence on the glorious spectacle The soft silvery light was pleasant to her eyes, and her little tre hand expressed to Harry, who clasped it, how deeply she was affected by the scene
”Let us eet to the top of Arthur's Seat before sunrise”
The boat was moored to a post on the bank A boatman awaited them Nell and her friends took their seats; the sail was spread; it quickly filled before the northwesterly breeze, and they sped on their way
What a new sensation was this for the maiden! She had been rowed on the waters of Lake Malcolhtly by Harry, always betrayed effort on the part of the oars with a gliding h the air The water was smooth as a lake, and Nell reclined in the stern of the boat, enjoying its gentle rocking
Occasionally the effect of the h the boat sailed across a glittering silver field Little wavelets rippled along the banks It was enchanting
At length Nell was overcome with drowsiness, her eyelids drooped, her head sank on Harry's shoulder--she slept Harry, sorry that she should ht, would have aroused her
”Let her sleep!” said the engineer ”She will better enjoy the novelties of the day after a couple of hours' rest”
At two o'clock in thethe boat reached Granton pier Nell awoke
”Have I been asleep?” inquired she
”No,that you slept, that's all”
The night continued clear Thein mid-heaven, diffused her rays on all sides In the little port of Granton lay two or three fishi+ng boats; they rocked gently on the waters of the Firth The wind fell as the dawn approached The atmosphere, clear of mists, promised one of those fine autumn days so delicious on the sea coast