The moment the engineer set foot on the platform at the end of his journey; the young man advanced towards him。
〃Are you Harry Ford?〃 asked the engineer quickly。
〃Yes; Mr。 Starr。〃
〃I should not have known you; my lad。 Of course in ten years you have bee a man!〃
〃I knew you directly; sir;〃 replied the young miner; cap in hand。 〃You have not changed。 You look just as you did when you bade us good…by in the Dochart pit。 I havent forgotten that day。〃
〃Put on your cap; Harry;〃 said the engineer。 〃Its pouring; and politeness neednt make you catch cold。〃
〃Shall we take shelter anywhere; Mr。 Starr?〃 asked young Ford。
〃No; Harry。 The weather is settled。 It will rain all day; and I am in a hurry。 Let us go on。〃
〃I am at your orders;〃 replied Harry。
〃Tell me; Harry; is your father well?〃
〃Very well; Mr。 Starr。〃
〃And your mother?〃
〃She is well; too。〃
〃Was it your father who wrote telling me to e to the Yarrow shaft?〃
〃No; it was I。〃
〃Then did Simon Ford send me a second letter to contradict the first?〃 asked the engineer quickly。
〃No; Mr。 Starr;〃 answered the young miner。
〃Very well;〃 said Starr; without speaking of the anonymous letter。 Then; continuing; 〃And can you tell me what you father wants with me?〃
〃Mr。 Starr; my father wishes to tell you himself。〃
〃But you know what it is?〃
〃I do; sir。〃
〃Well; Harry; I will not ask you more。 But let us get on; for Im anxious to see Simon Ford。 By…the…bye; where does he live?〃
〃In the mine。〃
〃What! In the Dochart pit?〃
〃Yes; Mr。 Starr;〃 replied Harry。
〃Really! has your family never left the old mine since the cessation of the works?〃
〃Not a day; Mr。 Starr。 You know my father。 It is there he was born; it is there he means to die!〃
〃I can understand that; Harry。 I c