altogether, leaving no trace of its former brilliancy but a small
bright flame that gradually took the shape of a seven-pointed Star
which sparkled through the gloom like a suspended ruby. The chapel
was left almost in complete darkness--he could scarcely discern
even the white figures of the kneeling worshippers,--a haunting
sense of the Supernatural seemed to permeate that deep hush and
dense shadow,--and notwithstanding his habitual tendency to
despise all religious ceremonies, there was something novel and
strange about this one which exercised a peculiar influence upon
his imagination. A sudden odd fancy possessed him that there were
others present besides himself and the brethren,--but who these
"others" were, he could not determine. It was an altogether
uncanny, uncomfortable impression--yet it was very strong upon
him--and he breathed a sigh of intense relief when he heard the
soft melody of the organ once more, and saw the oaken doors of the
grotto swing wide open to admit a flood of cheerful light from the
outer passage. The vespers were over,--the monks rose and paced
forth two by two, not with bent heads and downcast eyes as though
affecting an abased humility, but with the free and stately
bearing of kings returning from some high conquest. Drawing a
little further back into his retired corner, he watched them pass,
and was forced to admit to himself that he had seldom or never
seen finer types of splendid, healthful, and vigorous manhood at
its best and brightest. As noble specimens of the human race alone
they were well worth looking at,--they might have been warriors,
princes, emperors, he thought--anything but monks. Yet monks they
were, and followers of that Christian creed he so specially
condemned,--for each one wore on his breast a massive golden
crucifix, hung to a chain and fastened with a jewelled star.