detected,
for only a few of those who were singing ceased at the same moment. The
song paused; and I saw a company of six of the white-robed men walk up
the centre of the human avenue, surrounding a youth gorgeously attired
beneath his robe of white, and wearing a chaplet of flowers on his
head. I followed them closely, with my keenest observation; and, by
accompanying their slow progress with my eyes, I was able to perceive
more clearly what took place when they arrived at the other end. I knew
that my sight was so much more keen than that of most people, that I had
good reason to suppose I should see more than the rest could, at such a
distance. At the farther end a throne stood upon a platform, high above
the heads of the surrounding priests. To this platform I saw the company
begin to ascend, apparently by an inclined plane or gentle slope. The
throne itself was elevated again, on a kind of square pedestal, to the
top of which led a flight of steps. On the throne sat a majestic-looking
figure, whose posture seemed to indicate a mixture of pride and
benignity, as he looked down on the multitude below. The company
ascended to the foot of the throne, where they all kneeled for some
minutes; then they rose and passed round to the side of the pedestal
upon which the throne stood. Here they crowded close behind the youth,
putting him in the foremost place, and one of them opened a door in the
pedestal, for the youth to enter. I was sure I saw him shrink back, and
those crowding behind pushed him in. Then, again, arose a burst of song
from the multitude in white, which lasted some time. When it ceased,
a new company of seven commenced its march up the centre. As they
advanced, I looked up at my master: his noble countenance was full of
reverence and awe. Incapable of evil himself, he could scarcely suspect
it in another, much less in a multitude such as this, and surrounded
with such appearances of solemnity. I was certain it was the really
grand accompaniments that overcame him; that the stars overhead, the
dark towering tops of the yew-trees, and the wind that, like an unseen
spirit, sighed through their branches, bowed his spirit to the belief,
that in all these ceremonies lay some great mystical meaning which, his
humility told him, his ignorance prevented him from understanding.

More convinced than before, that there was evil here, I could not endure
that my master should be deceived; that one like him, so pure and n