air, like a concert of
flutes and harps, very far away. And then suddenly, in a sweet clear
radiance, the face of his mother, as she lived in his mind, appeared
in the space, and looked at him with a kind of heavenly love; then
beside the face appeared two thin hands which seemed to wave a
blessing towards him, which flowed like healing into his soul.

The relief from the horror, and the flood of tenderness that came into
his heart, made him reckless. The tears came into his eyes, not in a
rising film, but a flood hot and large. He took a step forwards round
the altar; but as he did so, the vision disappeared, the lights shot
up into a flare and went out; the house seemed to be suddenly shaken;
in the darkness he heard the rattle of bones, and the clash of metal,
and Anthony fell all his length upon the ground and lay as one dead.

But while he thus lay, there came to him in some secret cell of the
mind a dreadful vision, which he could only dimly remember afterwards
with a fitful horror. He thought that he was walking in the cloister
of some great house or college, a cool place, with a pleasant garden
in the court. He paced up and down, and each time that he did so, he
paused a little before a great door at the end, a huge blind portal,
with much carving about it, which he somehow knew he was forbidden to
enter. Nevertheless, each time that he came to it, he felt a strong
wish, that constantly increased, to set foot therein. Now in the dream
there fell on him a certain heaviness, and the shadow of a cloud fell
over the court, and struck the sunshine out of it. And at last he made
up his mind that he would enter. He pushed the door open with much
difficulty, and found himself in a long blank passage, very damp and
chilly, but with a glimmering light; he walked a few paces down it.
The flags underfoot were slimy, and the walls streamed with damp. He
then thought that he would return; but the great door was closed
behind him, and he could not open it. This made him very fearful; and
while he considered what he should do, he saw a tall and angry-looking
man approaching very swiftly down the passage. As he turned to face
him, the other came straight to him, and asked him very sternly what
he did there; to which Anthony replied that he had found the door
open. To which the other replied that it was fast now, and that he
must go forward. He seized Anthony as he spoke by the arm, and urged
him down the passage. Anthony would