he undergraduates; raised above
these to a height of three steps are the long seats appropriated to the
scholars and the Bachelors of Arts; and again, two steps above these are
the seats of the Fellows and Masters of Arts, together with room for
such casual strangers as may chance to be admitted. In the centre of
these long rows, on either side, are the places for the choristers, men
and boys, and the lofty thrones whence the Deans "look down with
sleepless eyes upon the world." By the door on either side are the
red-curtained and velvet-cushioned seats of the Master and Vice-master,
beyond whom sit the noblemen and fellow-commoners. By the lectern and
reading-desk is a step of black and white marble, which extends to the
altar, on which are two candlesticks of massive silver; and over them
some beautiful carved oaken work covers a great painting, flanked on
either side by old gilded pictures of the Saviour and the Madonna.
Imagine this space all lighted from wall to wall by wax candles, and at
the end by large lamps which shed a brighter and softer light, and
imagine it filled, if you can, by five hundred men in snowy surplices,
and you have a faint fancy of the scene which broke on the eyes of Mr
Kennedy and Eva, as they passed between the statues of the ante-chapel,
and under the pealing organ into the inner sanctuary of Saint Werner's
chapel.

"Could they behold--
Who, less insensible than sodden clay
In a sea river's bed at ebb of tide--
Could have beheld with undelighted heart
So many happy youths, so wide and fair
A congregation in its budding-time
Of health, and hope, and beauty, all at once
So many divers samples from the growth
Of life's sweet season--could have seen unmoved
That miscellaneous garland of wild flowers,
Decking the matron temples of a place,
So famous through the world?"

It was Mr Norton whom Julian caught hold of as an escort for his
friends into the chapel. I well remember, (who that saw it does not?)
that entrance. It was rather late; the organ was playing a grand
overture, the men were all in their seats, and the service just going to
begin, when Eva entered leaning on Mr Norton's arm, and followed by her
father and Julian. Many of the Saint Werner's men had seen her walking
in the grounds the last day or two, and as Kennedy's sister a peculiar
interest attached to her just then. But she needed no such accidental
source of interest to attract the livelie