第18部分(第1/7 页)

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 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。　West