wed him that its position was immediately under the wall of the
aisle, and within the mouth of an archway. He could now hear voices, and
the truth of the whole matter began to dawn upon him. Walking on towards
the opening, Smith discerned on his left hand a heap of earth,
and before him a flight of stone steps which the removed earth had
uncovered, leading down under the edifice. It was the entrance to a
large family vault, extending under the north aisle.

Stephen had never before seen it open, and descending one or two steps
stooped to look under the arch. The vault appeared to be crowded with
coffins, with the exception of an open central space, which had been
necessarily kept free for ingress and access to the sides, round three
of which the coffins were stacked in stone bins or niches.

The place was well lighted with candles stuck in slips of wood that were
fastened to the wall. On making the descent of another step the living
inhabitants of the vault were recognizable. They were his father the
master-mason, an under-mason, Martin Cannister, and two or three young
and old labouring-men. Crowbars and workmen's hammers were scattered
about. The whole company, sitting round on coffins which had been
removed from their places, apparently for some alteration or enlargement
of the vault, were eating bread and cheese, and drinking ale from a cup
with two handles, passed round from each to each.

'Who is dead?' Stephen inquired, stepping down.

Chapter XXVI

'To that last nothing under earth.'

All eyes were turned to the entrance as Stephen spoke, and the
ancient-mannered conclave scrutinized him inquiringly.

'Why, 'tis our Stephen!' said his father, rising from his seat; and,
still retaining the frothy mug in his left hand, he swung forward his
right for a grasp. 'Your mother is expecting ye--thought you would have
come afore dark. But you'll wait and go home with me? I have all but
done for the day, and was going directly.'

'Yes, 'tis Master Stephy, sure enough. Glad to see you so soon again,
Master Smith,' said Martin Cannister, chastening the gladness expressed
in his words by a strict neutrality of countenance, in order to
harmonize the feeling as much as possible with the solemnity of a family
vault.

'The same to you, Martin; and you, William,' said Stephen, nodding
around to the rest, who, having their mouths full of bread and cheese,
were of necessity compelled to reply merely by compres