Айвенго

Chapter 42

           Norweretheylesscarefultopreventanyunhallowedlaymanfromtouchingthepall,which,havingbeenthatusedatthefuneralofSaintEdmund,wasliabletobedesecrated,ifhandledbytheprofane.If,intruth,theseattentionscouldbeofanyusetothedeceased,hehadsomerighttoexpectthematthehandsofthebrethrenofSaintEdmund’s,since,besidesahundredmancusesofgoldpaiddownasthesoul-ransom,themotherofAthelstanehadannouncedherintentionofendowingthatfoundationwiththebetterpartofthelandsofthedeceased,inordertomaintainperpetualprayersforhissoul,andthatofherdepartedhusband.RichardandWilfredfollowedtheSaxonCedricintotheapartmentofdeath,where,astheirguidepointedwithsolemnairtotheuntimelybierofAthelstane,theyfollowedhisexampleindevoutlycrossingthemselves,andmutteringabriefprayerforthewealofthedepartedsoul.

           Thisactofpiouscharityperformed,Cedricagainmotionedthemtofollowhim,glidingoverthestonefloorwithanoiselesstread;and,afterascendingafewsteps,openedwithgreatcautionthedoorofasmalloratory,whichadjoinedtothechapel.Itwasabouteightfeetsquare,hollowed,likethechapelitself,outofthethicknessofthewall;andtheloop-hole,whichenlightenedit,beingtothewest,andwideningconsiderablyasitslopedinward,abeamofthesettingsunfounditswayintoitsdarkrecess,andshowedafemaleofadignifiedmien,andwhosecountenanceretainedthemarkedremainsofmajesticbeauty.

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