It's just the place for an inebriate home; no
public-houses, and plenty of fine spring water."
Maud was immensely amused by Monica. Howard contented himself by
saying that he was much misinterpreted; and presently they went off
to King's together.
Maud was not prepared for King's Chapel, and indeed the tame,
rather clumsy exterior gives very little hint of the wonders
within.
When they passed the swing-door, and saw the fine soaring lines
leading to the exquisite intricacies of the roof, the whole air
full of rich colour; the dark carved screen, with the gleaming
golden trumpets of the angels on the organ, Howard could see her
catch her breath, and grow pale for an instant at the crowded
splendour of the place.
They sat in the nave; and when the thin bell died down, and the
footsteps passed softly by, and the organ uttered its melodious
voice as the white-robed procession moved slowly in, Howard could
see that the girl was almost overcome by the scene. She looked at
him once with a strange smile, a smile which he could not
interpret; and as the service slowly proceeded--to Howard little
more than a draught of sweet sensation--he could see that Maud was
praying earnestly, deeply, for some consecration of hope and
strength which he could not divine or guess at.
As they came away, she hardly spoke--she seemed tired and almost
rapt out of herself. She just said, "Ah, I am glad I came here with
you. I shall never forget this as long as I live--it is quite
beyond words.
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