the underground city-第24章
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At length Nell was overcome with drowsiness； her eyelids drooped； her head sank on Harry's shouldershe slept。 Harry； sorry that she should miss any of the beauties of this magnificent night； 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 the morning the boat reached Granton pier。 Nell awoke。 〃Have I been asleep？〃 inquired she。
〃No； my child；〃 said James Starr。 〃You have been dreaming that you slept； that's all。〃
The night continued clear。 The moon； riding in mid…heaven； diffused her rays on all sides。 In the little port of Granton lay two or three fishing 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。
A soft； transparent film of vapor lay along the horizon； the first sunbeam would dissipate it； to the maiden it exhibited that aspect of the sea which seems to blend it with the sky。 Her view was now enlarged； without producing the impression of the boundless infinity of ocean。
Harry taking Nell's hand； they followed James Starr and Jack Ryan as they traversed the deserted streets。 To Nell； this suburb of the capital appeared only a collection of gloomy dark houses； just like Coal Town； only that the roof was higher； and gleamed with small lights。
She stepped lightly forward； and easily kept pace with Harry。 〃Are you not tired； Nell？〃 asked he； after half an hour's walking。
〃No！ my feet seem scarcely to touch the earth；〃 returned she。 〃This sky above us seems so high up； I feel as if I could take wing and fly！〃
〃I say！ keep hold of her！〃 cried Jack Ryan。 〃Our little Nell is too good to lose。 I feel just as you describe though； myself； when I have not left the pit for a long time。〃
〃It is when we no longer experience the oppressive effect of the vaulted rocky roof above Coal Town；〃 said
James Starr； 〃that the spacious firmament appears to us like a profound abyss into which we have； as it were； a desire to plunge。 Is that what you feel； Nell？〃
〃Yes； Mr。 Starr； it is exactly like that；〃 said Nell。 〃It makes me feel giddy。〃
〃Ah！ you will soon get over that； Nell；〃 said Harry。 〃You will get used to the outer world； and most likely forget all about our dark coal pit。〃
〃No； Harry； never！〃 said Nell； and she put her hand over her eyes； as though she would recall the remembrance of everything she had lately quitted。
Between the silent dwellings of the city； the party passed along Leith Walk； and went round the Calton Hill； where stood； in the light of the gray dawn； the buildings of the Observatory and Nelson's Monument。 By Regent's Bridge and the North Bridge they at last reached the lower extremity of the Canongate。 The town still lay wrapt in slumber。
Nell pointed to a large building in the center of an open space； asking； 〃What great confused mass is that？〃
〃That confused mass； Nell； is the palace of the ancient kings of Scotland； that is Holyrood； where many a sad scene has been enacted！ The historian can here invoke many a royal shade； from those of the early Scottish kings to that of the unhappy Mary Stuart； and the French king； Charles X。 When day breaks； however； Nell； this palace will not look so very gloomy。 Holyrood； with its four embattled towers； is not unlike some handsome country house。 But let us pursue our way。 There； just above the ancient Abbey of Holyrood； are the superb cliffs called Salisbury Crags。 Arthur's Seat rises above them； and that is where we are going。 From the summit of Arthur's Seat； Nell； your eyes shall behold the sun appear above the horizon seaward。〃
They entered the King's Park； then； gradually ascending they passed across the Queen's Drive； a splendid carriageway encircling the hill； which we owe to a few lines in one of Sir Walter Scott's romances。
Arthur's Seat is in truth only a hill； seven hundred and fifty feet high； which stands alone amid surrounding heights。 In less than half an hour； by an easy winding path； James Starr and his party reached the crest of the
crouching lion； which； seen from the west； Arthur's Seat so much resembles。 There； all four seated themselves； and James Starr； ever ready with quotations from the great Scottish novelist； simply said； 〃Listen to what is written by Sir Walter Scott in the eighth chapter of the Heart of Mid…Lothian。 'If I were to choose a spot from which the rising or setting sun could be seen to the greatest possible advantage； it would be from this neighborhood。' Now watch； Nell！ the sun will soon appear； and for the first time you will contemplate its splendor。〃
The maiden turned her eyes eastward。 Harry； keeping close beside her； observed her with anxious interest。 Would the first beams of day overpower her feelings？ All remained quiet； even Jack Ryan。 A faint streak of pale rose tinted the light vapors of the horizon。 It was the first ray of light attacking the laggards of the night。 Beneath the hill lay the silent city； massed confusedly in the twilight of dawn。 Here and there lights twinkled among the houses of the old town。 Westward rose many hill…tops； soon to be illuminated by tips of fire。
Now the distant horizon of the sea became more plainly visible。 The scale of colors fell into the order of the solar。 Every instant they increased in intensity； rose color became red； red became fiery； 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 daythe sun arosehis 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 Edinburghthe clear； distinct lines of streets in the New Town； and the irregular mass of houses； with their confused network of streets and lanes； which constitutes Auld Reekie； properly so called。 Two heights commanded 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； overcome by the purity of the air and the sublimity of the scene； she sank fainting into Harry's arm
