. The Argosy. utiful vision of an earthlytabernacle would dissolve to the sight like the baseless fabric of adream : leaving nothing for companionship but the cruel wind, and,perhaps, an array of ghosts—though if anything will keep ghosts backit is surely an east wind. So I followed the attentive verger all down the long aisles to the Salisbury and Stonehenge. 207 west doorway, while the swelling strains of the organ rose and fellupon the air and floated upwards into space towards heaven. Untilthe door closed upon us, and the verger, with very matter-of-factand unsentimental energy and prompti
. The Argosy. utiful vision of an earthlytabernacle would dissolve to the sight like the baseless fabric of adream : leaving nothing for companionship but the cruel wind, and,perhaps, an array of ghosts—though if anything will keep ghosts backit is surely an east wind. So I followed the attentive verger all down the long aisles to the Salisbury and Stonehenge. 207 west doorway, while the swelling strains of the organ rose and fellupon the air and floated upwards into space towards heaven. Untilthe door closed upon us, and the verger, with very matter-of-factand unsentimental energy and promptitude, turned the lock, andpocketed the key, and went his way. Probably that way ended innothing more romantic than a cosy room with a blazing hearth, aquiet tea-table and a comely helpmate : and probably he was ashappy as if he had been born in the purple. As there is a wonderfulpower of adapting oneself to circumstances in the human mind, so inlike manner, and in what would be a very marvellous manner if we. Salisbury Cathedral. had the arranging of our own lots, does man for the most part suithis particular niche in the world. It is only the headstrong andperverse round man who, by wilfully turning aside and choosing hisown path, finds himself at last in the square hole. But once there,oh, pity him from the very bottom of your heart! Oh that fearfulcry of the human soul : What is—what might have been ! And as the verger went his own way so I went mine, envyingthe organist who had it all to himself, and could go on playing longafter the gloom had gathered, if he so willed; filling the darknesswith magical sound, and living, if he was of that turn of mind, in adream that was not of this world. The next morning was dull and wet and cold; but towards noonthe rain ceased, and about two oclock I started for Stonehenge, 208 Salisbury and Stonehenge. in a conveyance supplied by the hotel. The wind was blowing abitter blast, but as on the morrow I should leave Salisbury, there was
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