from the only building in the two cities which is worthy of
the name of a cathedral. But the British public will bear anything; they
are so busy in speculating in railroad shares.

When Egremont had entered on his first visit to the Abbey by the south
transept, and beheld the boards and the spikes with which he seemed
to be environed as if the Abbey were in a state of siege; iron gates
shutting him out from the solemn nave and the shadowy aisles; scarcely
a glimpse to be caught of a single window; while on a dirty form, some
noisy vergers sate like ticket-porters or babbled like tapsters at their
ease,--the visions of abbatial perfection in which he had early and
often indulged among the ruins of Marney rose on his outraged sense,
and he was then about hastily to retire from the scene he had so long
purposed to visit, when suddenly the organ burst forth, a celestial
symphony floated in the lofty roof, and voices of plaintive melody
blended with the swelling sounds. He was fixed to the spot.

Perhaps it was some similar feeling that influenced another individual
on the day after the visit of the deputation to Egremont. The sun,
though in his summer heaven he had still a long course, had passed his
meridian by many hours, the service was performing in the choir, and
a few persons entering by the door into that part of the Abbey Church
which is so well known by the name of Poet's Corner, proceeded through
the unseemly stockade which the chapter have erected, and took their
seats. One only, a female, declined to pass, notwithstanding the
officious admonitions of the vergers that she had better move on, but
approaching the iron grating that shut her out from the body of the
church, looked wistfully down the long dim perspective of the beautiful
southern aisle. And thus motionless she remained in contemplation, or
it might be prayer, while the solemn peals of the organ and the sweet
voices of the choir enjoyed that holy liberty for which she sighed, and
seemed to wander at their will in every sacred recess and consecrated
corner.

The sounds--those mystical and thrilling sounds that at once elevate
the soul and touch the heart--ceased, the chaunting of the service
recommenced; the motionless form moved; and as she moved Egremont came
forth from the choir, and his eye was at once caught by the symmetry of
her shape and the picturesque position which she gracefully occupied;
still gazing through that grate, while the light po