第4部分(第1/7 页)

〃Delighted　to　meet　you！〃　he　exclaimed。 〃If　I　had　only　known　you　were　to　be　above　ground　to…day；　I　would　have　spared　myself　going　down　the　Yarrow　shaft！〃

〃This　is　Mr。　James　Starr；〃　said　Harry；　turning　his　lamp　towards　the　engineer；　who　was　in　the　shadow。

〃Mr。　Starr！〃　cried　Jack　Ryan。 〃Ah；　sir；　I　could　not　see。　Since　I　left　the　mine；　my　eyes　have　not　been　accustomed　to　see　in　the　dark；　as　they　used　to　do。〃

〃Ah；　I　remember　a　laddie　who　was　always　singing。 That　was　ten　years　ago。　It　was　you；　no　doubt？〃

〃Ay；　Mr。　Starr；　but　in　changing　my　trade；　I　haven't　changed　my　disposition。 It's　far　better　to　laugh　and　sing　than　to　cry　and　whine！〃

〃You're　right　there；　Jack　Ryan。 And　what　do　you　do　now；　as　you　have　left　the　mine？〃

〃I　am　working　on　the　Melrose　farm；　forty　miles　from　here。　Ah；　it's　not　like　our　Aberfoyle　mines！ The　pick　es　better　to　my　hand　than　the　spade　or　hoe。 And　then；　in　the　old　pit；　there　were　vaulted　roofs；　to　merrily　echo　one's　songs；　while　up　above　ground！……But　you　are　going　to　see　old　Simon；　Mr。　Starr？〃

〃Yes；　Jack；〃　answered　the　engineer。

〃Don't　let　me　keep　you　then。〃

〃Tell　me；　Jack；〃　said　Harry；　〃what　was　taking　you　to　our　cottage　to…day？〃

〃I　wanted　to　see　you；　man；〃　replied　Jack；　〃and　ask　you　to　e　to　the　Irvine　games。 You　know　I　am　the　piper　of　the　place。　There　will　be　dancing　and　singing。〃

〃Thank　you；　Jack；　but　it's　impossible。〃

〃Impossible？〃

〃Yes；　Mr。　Starr's　visit　will　last　some　time；　and　I　must　take　him　back　to　Callander。〃

〃Well；　Harry；　it　won't　be　for　a　week　yet。 By　that　time　Mr。　Starr's　visit　will　be　over；　I　should　think；　and　there　will　be　nothing　to　keep　you　at　the　cottage。〃

〃Indeed；　Harry；〃　said　James　Starr；　〃you　must　profit　by　your　frien