red 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 Malcolm; but the oar, handled ever so lightly by Harry,
always betrayed effort on the part of the oarsman. Now, for the first
time, Nell felt herself borne along with a gliding movement, like that
of a balloon through 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 moonlight on the waters was as though 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
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 f