whole manner showed that she had nerved herself to act as her loyal heart dictated as her duty。
〃Nell！〃 cried Harry； springing towards her。
The girl arrested her lover by a gesture； and continued； 〃Your father and mother； and you； Harry； must now know all。 And you too； Mr。 Starr； must remain ignorant of nothing that concerns the child you have received； and whom Harry…… unfortunately for him； alas！……drew from the abyss。〃
〃Oh； Nell！ what are you saying？〃 cried Harry。
〃Allow her to speak；〃 said James Starr in a decided tone。
〃I am the granddaughter of old Silfax；〃 resumed Nell。 〃I never knew a mother till the day I came here；〃 added she； looking at Madge。
〃Blessed be that day； my daughter！〃 said the old woman。
〃I knew no father till I saw Simon Ford；〃 continued Nell； 〃nor friend till the day when Harry's hand touched mine。 Alone with my grandfather I have lived during fifteen years in the remote and most solitary depths of the mine。 I say WITH my grandfather； but I can scarcely use the expression； for I seldom saw him。 When he disappeared from Old Aberfoyle； he concealed himself in caverns known only to himself。 In his way he was kind to me； dreadful as he was； he fed me with whatever he could procure from outside the mine； but I can dimly recollect that in my earliest years I was the nursling of a goat； the death of which was a bitter grief to me。 My grandfather； seeing my distress； brought me another animal…… a dog he said i