波波小说

第5部分（第1页）

ss　enjoyed　by　the　little　family　in　their　dark　cottage。

The　engineer　was　eagerly　expected。　　Simon　Ford　was　standing　at　his　door；　and　as　soon　as　Harrys　lamp　announced　the　arrival　of　his　former　viewer　he　advanced　to　meet　him。

〃Wele；　Mr。　Starr！〃　he　exclaimed；　his　voice　echoing　under　the　roof　of　schist。　　〃Wele　to　the　old　overmans　cottage！　Though　it　is　buried　fifteen　hundred　feet　under　the　earth；　our　house　is　not　the　less　hospitable。〃

〃And　how　are　you；　good　Simon？〃　asked　James　Starr；　grasping　the　hand　which　his　host　held　out　to　him。

〃Very　well；　Mr。　Starr。　　How　could　I　be　otherwise　here；　sheltered　from　the　inclemencies　of　the　weather？　Your　ladies　who　go　to　Newhaven　or　Portobello　in　the　summer　time　would　do　much　better　to　pass　a　few　months　in　the　coal　mine　of　Aberfoyle！　　They　would　run　no　risk　here　of　catching　a　heavy　cold；　as　they　do　in　the　damp　streets　of　the　old　capital。〃

〃Im　not　the　man　to　contradict　you；　Simon；〃　answered　James　Starr；　glad　to　find　the　old　man　just　as　he　used　to　be。　　〃Indeed；　I　wonder　why　I　do　not　change　my　home　in　the　Canongate　for　a　cottage　near　you。〃

〃And　why　not；　Mr。　Starr？　　I　know　one　of　your　old　miners　who　would　be　truly　pleased　to　have　only　a　partition　wall　between　you　and　him。〃

〃And　how　is　Madge？〃　asked　the　engineer。

〃The　goodwife　is　in　better　health　than　I　am；　if　thats　possible；〃　replied　Ford；　〃and　it　will　be　a　pleasure　to　her　to　see　you　at　her　table。　I　think　she　will　surpass　herself　to　do　you　honor。〃

〃We　shall　see　that；　Simon；　we　shall　see　that！〃　said　the　engineer；　to　whom　the　announcement　of　a　good　breakfast　could　not　be　indifferent；　after　his　long　walk。

〃Are　you　hungry；　Mr。　Starr？〃

〃Ravenously　hungry。　　My　journey　has　given　me　an　appetite。　I　came　through　horrible　weather。〃

〃Ah；　it　is　raining　up　there；〃　responded　Simon　Ford。

〃Yes；　Simon；　and　the　waters　of　the　Forth　are　as　rough　as　the　sea。〃

〃Well；　Mr。　Starr；　here　it　never　rains。　　But　I　neednt　describe　to　you　all　the　advantages；　which　you　know　as　well　as　myself。　Here　we　are　at　the　cottage。　　That　is　the　chief　thing；　and　I　again　say　you　are　wele；　sir。〃

Simon　Ford；　followed　by　Harry；　ushered　their　guest　into　the　dwelling。　James　Starr　found　himself　in　a　large　room　lighted　by　numerous　lamps；　one　hanging　from　the　colored　beams　of　the　roof。

〃The　soup　is　ready；　wife；〃　said　Ford；　〃and　it　mustnt　be　kept　waiting　any　more　than　Mr。　Starr。　　He　is　as　hungry　as　a　miner；　and　he　shall　see　that　our　boy　doesnt　let　us　want　for　anything　in　the　cottage！　By…the…bye；　Harry；〃　added　the　old　overman；　turning　to　his　son；　〃Jack　Ryan　came　here　to　see　you。〃

〃I　know；　father。　　We　met　him　in　the　Yarrow　shaft。〃

〃Hes　an　honest　and　a　merry　fellow；〃　said　Ford；　〃but　he　seems　to　be　quite　happy　above　ground。　　He　hasnt　the　true　miners　blood　in　his　veins。　Sit　down；　Mr。　Starr；　and　have　a　good　dinner；　for　we　may　not　sup　till　late。〃

As　the　engineer　and　his　hosts　were　taking　their　places：

〃One　moment；　Simon；〃　said　James　Starr。　　〃Do　you　want　me　to　eat　with　a　good　appetite？〃

〃It　will　be　doing　us　all　possible　honor；　Mr。　Starr；〃　answered　Ford。

〃Well；　in　order　to　eat　heartily；　I　must　not　be　at　all　anxious。　Now　I　have　two　questions　to　put　to　you。〃

〃Go　on；　sir。〃

〃Your　letter　told　me　of　a　munication　which　was　to　be　of　an　interesting　nature。〃

〃It　is　very　interesting　indeed。〃

〃To　you？〃

〃To　you　and　to　me；　Mr。　Starr。　　But　I　do　not　want　to　tell　it　you　until　after　dinner；　and　on　the　very　spot　itself。　Without　that　you　would　not　believe　me。〃

〃Simon；〃　resumed　the　engineer；　〃look　me　straight　in　the　face。　An　interesting　munication？　　Yes。　　Good！　　I　will　not　ask　more；〃　he　added；　as　if　he　had　read　the　reply　in　the　old　overmans　eyes。

〃And　the　second　question？〃　asked　the　latter。

〃Do　you　know；　Simon；　who　the　person　is　who　can　have　written　this？〃　answered　the　engineer；　handing　him　the　anonymous　letter。

Ford　took　the　letter　and　read　it　attentively。　　Then　giving　it　to　his　son；　〃Do　you　know　the　writing？〃　he　asked。

〃No；　father；〃　replied　Harry。

〃And　had　this　letter　the　Aberfoyle　postmark？〃　inquired　Simon　Ford。

〃Yes；　like　yours；〃　replied　James　Starr。

〃What　do　you　think　of　that；　Harry？〃　said　his　father；　his　brow　darkening。

〃I　think；　father；〃　returned　Harry；　〃that　someone　has　had　some　interest　in　trying　to　prevent　Mr。　Starr　from　ing　to　the　place　where　you　invited　him。〃

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