f buff, low
green blinds, and window-sashes grained to imitate oak. At the edge of
the pavement before the inn were some stone mounting steps, and by them
stood a tall white pole, on which swung the green and silver of the
nebuly coat itself. On either side of the Blandamer Arms clustered a
few more modern shops, which, possessing no arcade, had to be content
with awnings of brown stuff with red stripes. One of these places of
business was occupied by Mr Joliffe, the pork-butcher. He greeted
Westray through the open window.

"Good-morning. About your work betimes, I see," pointing to the roll of
drawings which the architect carried under his arm. "It is a great
privilege, this restoration to which you are called," and here he
shifted a chop into a more attractive position on the show-board--"and I
trust blessing will attend your efforts. I often manage to snatch a few
minutes from the whirl of business about mid-day myself, and seek a
little quiet meditation in the church. If you are there then, I shall
be glad to give you any help in my power. Meanwhile, we must both be
busy with our own duties."

He began to turn the handle of a sausage-machine, and Westray was glad
to be quit of his pious words, and still more of his insufferable
patronage.

CHAPTER FOUR.

The north side of Cullerne Church, which faced the square, was still in
shadow, but, as Westray stepped inside, he found the sunshine pouring
through the south windows, and the whole building bathed in a flood of
most mellow light. There are in England many churches larger than that
of Saint Sepulchre, and fault has been found with its proportions,
because the roof is lower than in some other conventual buildings of its
size. Yet, for all this, it is doubtful whether architecture has ever
produced a composition more truly dignified and imposing.

The nave was begun by Walter Le Bec in 1135, and has on either side an
arcade of low, round-headed arches. These arches are divided from one
another by cylindrical pillars, which have no incised ornamentation, as
at Durham or Waltham or Lindisfarne, nor are masked with Perpendicular
work, as in the nave of Winchester or in the choir of Gloucester, but
rely for effect on severe plainness and great diameter. Above them is
seen the dark and cavernous depth of the triforium, and higher yet the
clerestory with minute and infrequent openings. Over all broods a stone
vault, divided across and diagonally by