weather。〃

〃Ah；　it　is　raining　up　there；〃　responded　Simon　Ford。

〃Yes；　Simon；　and　the　waters　of　the　Forth　are　as　rough　as　the　sea。〃

〃Well；　Mr。　Starr；　here　it　never　rains。 But　I　needn't　describe　to　you　all　the　advantages；　which　you　know　as　well　as　myself。　Here　we　are　at　the　cottage。 That　is　the　chief　thing；　and　I　again　say　you　are　wele；　sir。〃

Simon　Ford；　followed　by　Harry；　ushered　their　guest　into　the　dwelling。　James　Starr　found　himself　in　a　large　room　lighted　by　numerous　lamps；　one　hanging　from　the　colored　beams　of　the　roof。

〃The　soup　is　ready；　wife；〃　said　Ford；　〃and　it　mustn't　be　kept　waiting　any　more　than　Mr。　Starr。 He　is　as　hungry　as　a　miner；　and　he　shall　see　that　our　boy　doesn't　let　us　want　for　anything　in　the　cottage！　By…the…bye；　Harry；〃　added　the　old　overman；　turning　to　his　son；　〃Jack　Ryan　came　here　to　see　you。〃

〃I　know；　father。 We　met　him　in　the　Yarrow　shaft。〃

〃He's　an　honest　and　a　merry　fellow；〃　said　Ford；　〃but　he　seems　to　be　quite　happy　above　ground。 He　hasn't　the　true　miner's　blood　in　his　veins。　Sit　down；　Mr。　Starr；　and　have　a　good　dinner；　for　we　may　not　sup　till　late。〃

As　the　engineer　and　his　hosts　were　taking　their　places：

〃One　moment；　Simon；〃　said　James　Starr。 〃Do　you　want　me　to　eat　with　a　good　appetite？〃

〃It　will　be　doing　us　all　possible　honor；　Mr。　Starr；〃　answered　Ford。

〃Well；　in　order　to　eat　heartily；　I　must　not　be　at　all　anxious。　Now　I　have　two　questions　to　put　to　you。〃

〃Go　on；　sir。〃

〃Your　letter　told　me　of　a　munication　which　was　to　be　of　an　interesting　nature。〃

〃It　is　very　interesting　indeed。〃

〃To　you？〃

〃To　you　and　to　me；　Mr。　Starr。 But　I　do　not　want　to　tell　it　you　until　after　dinner；　and　on　the　very　spot　itself。　Without　that　you　would　no