Page images
PDF
EPUB

which the ancient pile was appropriately situated, and in a few minutes found himself out of the noisy streets, and within the quiet, sacred precincts of the cathedral. The effect was forcible, and immediate. Above him the west and central towers raised their magnificent heads, and stood out in bold relief against the sky, to which they pointed as the aim of all the services below. Around the towers flitted a number of noisy rooks, whose peculiar notes added to the charm. The July sun blazed down upon the flagged pathway; the day was bright, even to dullness, and all was sacredly still, but for the cawing of the rooks. The lawyer felt as though he had been transported to another world; matters of law were for the time

forgotten, and his

[ocr errors]

spirit took a spirit took a tone in accordance with the nature of the scene. In this frame of mind Mr. Trevelyan entered the church by the northern door. The organ was rolling out a quiet, soft voluntary, the effect of which intensified the

beauty of the interior before him. The stained windows at the west end, in the transepts, and behind the altar, the solemn monuments, the massive pillars, the richly carved choir, the wonderful architecture of a bygone age, all served to prepare him to enter upon the service with reverence.

From what seemingly trifling incidents do mighty events arise! Was it mere chance. that prompted Edgar Trevelyan to go up to Zion and worship? Was it mere chance that led to consequences so important to the destinies of some of the characters in this history? Would there have been anything at all of a momentous nature to relate concerning the chief personages in this narrative had that visit to the cathedral not been made? Let the reader judge from the sequel.

The lawyer was conducted by a verger to a stall in the choir, on the cantoris side, whence he had a good view of the choristers opposite, and, indeed, as they came in, of the

whole of the singers and clergy. In due time the service began. The voices rolled sublimely forth in the General Confession, ascending to the lofty roof of the building.

Rich were the qualities of these voices, as if the beings who possessed them had been selected from ten thousand because gifted in this respect by Nature above their fellows. Mr. Trevelyan was lost in religious reverence, when forth pealed the voices opposite

The Lord is my light, and my salvation.

Attracted by a treble of marvellous sweetness, he raised his eyes to examine its owner. This was a boy of a fair complexion, gentle in appearance, and with an angelic cast of countenance. In the response from the cantoris side, a treble of equal power and sweetness was prominent. And so the Psalms went on, deriving additional poetry from the music and from the quality of the various voices. In the "Magnificat" and the "Nunc dimittis," the visitor had further

opportunities of hearing the two leading trebles, whilst in the solos and duetts of the Anthem they perfectly charmed him. His favourite variety of vocal music had always been the voices of cathedral boys. The very indifference with which they apparently sang the sacred words added to the pleasure. If, for all the religious interest they seemed to take, they might have been in the playground, there was, at all events, a kind of sexless nature in the tones which was not to. be met with elsewhere, and which seemed to make them the fittest substitutes for an angelic choir.

At the close of the service Mr. Trevelyan accosted the verger, who had conducted him to the stall.

"Can you tell me the names of the two boys who sang the duett in the anthem?

[ocr errors]

"Yes, sir; the one on your side was Harold Wilton, the boy on the opposite side was Thomas Kent."

[ocr errors]

Oh, indeed. They have beautiful voices.”

"That they have, sir; it is not easy to say which is the best, but I believe Kent's is considered the finest."

"Do you know anything about their parents?" asked Mr. Trevelyan.

"Well, sir, I cannot tell you much about young Kent's, but the other one's father is a bookseller down in the High Street there."

"And do not Kent's parents live in the city too ?"

"No, sir; you see he was picked up at Hawburn, ten miles off, by the bishop. The lad was singing in the streets-beggingragged, and without stocking or shoe, and the bishop was attracted by his voice, and sent someone to find out all about him."

"And had the boy brought here, I presume."

He placed the lad at comfortable

"Yes. lodgings in the city."

"Is the bishop in Rockby at present ?" Yes, sir, he happens to be at the Castle

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »