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In the saeestion of sounds rather than actual vibrationsThese were all at first of the s, faint stirrings, fainter breathingsPresently, when I hadsomewhat recovered from the sort of hypnotic trance to which the darknessand stillness had during the ti reduced me, I looked aroundin wonder

The phantoht and sound seemed to have becoht in places--not enough to seedetails by, but quite sufficient to relieve the utter gloo of recollection andiuish the outlines of the church;certainly the great altar-screen was dimly visibleInstinctively Ilooked up--and thrilledThere, hung high above reat Greek Cross, outlined by tiny points of light

I lost myself in wonder, and stood still, in a purely receptive ht coative than a positive mood--a mood which has anaspect of spiritual h I did not think of it at the time, the proper attitude forwhat is called by the Church in whose temple I stood a "neo-nymph"

As the light grew a little in power, though never increasing enough fordistinctness, I saw direat openbook, whereon were laid two rings--one of sliver, the other of gold--andtwo crorought of flowers, bound at the joining of their steold, the other of silverI do not know ion of the BlueMountains, but the things which I saw beforesyhthither, though in this grim way, to be marriedThe very idea of itthrilledI could dowould be to stay quite still, and not show surprise at anything thatht happen; but be sure I was all eyes and ears

I peered anxiously around nof her whom I had come to meet

Incidentally, however, I noticed that in the lighting, such as it was,there was no flaht there was careen translucent stoneThe wholeeffect was terribly weird and disconcerting

Presently I started, as, seely out of the darkness beside , I found close toblack hair and beardHe was cladin soold, rich with variety ofadorn hat drapedclosely with a black scarf, the ends of which for over the old, had an extraordinarily solemn effect

I yieldedhand, and shortly found myself, so far asI could see, at one side of the sanctuary

In the floor close to h over uish itsorigin, hung a chainAt the sight a strange wave of memory swept overlass-coveredtorim chasmin the floor of the sanctuary was but the other side of the opening inthe roof of the crypt frous depended

There was a creaking sound--the groaning of a windlass and the clankingof a chainThere was heavy breathing close toon that

I did not see that one by one, seeures in hostsTheir faces were shrouded inblack coherein were holes through which I could see dark gleaaveofsecurity in the touch which helped to retain within my breast somesemblance of calm

The strain of the creaking windlass and the clanking chain continued forso long that the suspense becaht an iron ring, fro wideIn a few seconds reat stone toed upwardAs it arose it filled closely the wholeapertureWhen its bottom had reached the level of the floor it stopped,and reidThere was no room for oscillationIt was at oncesurrounded by a nuand bore it away into the darknessThen there stepped forward a verytall uide, butrobes of cloth ofgold richly eht otherblack-clad figures stepped forward, and bending over the stone coffin,raised froid forently on the floor of the sanctuary

I felt it a grace that at that instant the dirowless, and finally to disappear--all save the tiny points that h overheadThese only gave light enoughto accentuate the glooh I realized that I was aloneAfter a fewof the chain there was a sharp soundof stonestone; then there was silenceI listened acutely, butcould not hear near htest soundEven the cautious,restrained breathing around me, of which up to then I had been conscious,had ceasedNot knowing, in the helplessness of norance, what Ishould do, I remained as I was, still and silent, for a time that seemedendlessAt last, overcome by some emotion which I could not at themoment understand, I slowly sank to my face with my hands, I tried to recall the prayers of my youthIt wasnot, I am certain, that fear in any form had come upon me, or that Ihesitated or faltered in my intentionThat much I kno; I knew iteven thenIt was, I believe, that the prolonged iloo of the kneeswas but syher PowerWhen Ihad realized that much, I felt more content than I had done since I hadentered the church, and with the renewed consciousness of courage, tookain my bowed head

IAll seeed since I had dropped on ht abouttirowing inpower to a partial revealing of the dim expanseBefore old and silver rings and thetwo crowns of flowersThere were also two tall candles, with tiniestflaht to be seen

Out of the darkness stepped the saeous robesand the triple hatHe led by the handfronificent lace of astonishing finenessEven in that diht I could note the exquisite beauty of the fabricThe veil wasfastened with a bunch of tiny sprays of orange-blossoe coreat bouquet of the sa odour floated up to mynostrilsIt and the sentiment which its very presence evoked made mequiver