rid deed the spirit of
revenge will lead him. My duty is clear; I should be the most despicable
creature on earth did I hesitate to perform it. Farewell! I thank you
all heartily. You only have taught me what happiness is. Whatever may
befall, believe that my whole heart remains with you."

At these words, Simon, Madge, and Harry started up in an agony of grief,
exclaiming in tones of despair, "What, Nell! is it possible you would
leave us?"

James Starr put them all aside with an air of authority, and, going
straight up to Nell, he took both her hands in his, saying quietly,
"Very right, my child; you have said exactly what you ought to say;
and now listen to what we have to say in reply. We shall not let you go
away; if necessary, we shall keep you by force. Do you think we could be
so base as to accept of your generous proposal? These threats of Silfax
are formidable--no doubt about it! But, after all, a man is but a man,
and we can take precautions. You will tell us, will you not, even for
his own sake, all you can about his habits and his lurking-places? All
we want to do is to put it out of his power to do harm, and perhaps
bring him to reason."

"You want to do what is quite impossible," said Nell. "My grandfather
is everywhere and nowhere. I have never seen his retreats. I have never
seen him sleep. If he meant to conceal himself, he used to leave me
alone, and vanish. When I took my resolution, Mr. Starr, I was aware of
everything you could say against it. Believe me, there is but one way to
render Silfax powerless, and that will be by my return to him. Invisible
himself, he sees everything that goes on. Just think whether it is
likely he could discover your very thoughts and intentions, from
that time when the letter was written to Mr. Starr, up to now that
my marriage with Harry has been arranged, if he did not possess the
extraordinary faculty of knowing everything. As far as I am able to
judge, my grandfather, in his very insanity, is a man of most powerful
mind. He formerly used to talk to me on very lofty subjects. He taught
me the existence of God, and never deceived me but on one point, which
was--that he made me believe that all men were base and perfidious,
because he wished to inspire me with his own hatred of all the human
race. When Harry brought me to the cottage, you thought I was simply
ignorant of mankind, but, far beyond that, I was in mortal fear of you
all. Ah, forgive me! I assure you, f