〃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