The sound of the breeze in the tree-tops, the deep silence during a lull, the distant line of the horizon, which could be discerned when the road passed over open levels--all these things filled her with new sensations, and left lasting impressions on her mind.
After some time she ceased to ask questions, and her companions respected her silence, not wishing to influence by any words of theirs the girl's highly sensitive imagination, but preferring to allow ideas to arise spontaneously in her soul.
At about half past eleven o'clock, they gained the banks of the river Forth.

There a boat, chartered by James Starr, awaited them.

In a few hours it would convey them all to Granton.

Nell looked at the clear water which flowed up to her feet, as the waves broke gently on the beach, reflecting the starlight.

"Is this a lake ?" said she.
"No," replied Harry, "it is a great river flowing towards the sea, and soon opening so widely as to resemble a gulf.