The Curse Upon Mitre Square — page 28: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

20 ‘THE CURSE UPON MITRE SQUARE. cruciform in shape, and of perfect symmetry, the monster church of Holy Trinity was, with the exception of the Abbey of Westminster and the Cathedral of St. Paul, the finest building of the metropolis. Mysterious and solemn it looked on this night, and the great tower, with that almost human expression, seemed to bid her to depart and not disturb its venerable presence. ‘T'he woman wavered a minute in her resolution, but stifling her scruples she entered the church and saw the young monk kneeling in the sanctuary. Again she wavered, SO awe-inspiring were the surroundings ; the great massive pillars supporting the rounded arches of the Norman nave, the symmetrical grace of the late Gothic clerestory, the long decorated chancel, with the solitary figure bending in prayer just visible in the gloom, composed a picture of such impressiveness that she could but wish that another had been entrusted with the work. She approached the sanctuary, and the rustle of her dress disturbed Martin, who looked round, dis- pleased at the interruption; she beckoned to him, and, his curiosity awakened, the monk responded and went to the steps of the sanctuary. Perceiving, however, that the woman was not in want of help, and suddenly remembering his duty and the sus- picious nature of the woman’s approach, he was about to retire, when she removed the head-dress which had partly concealed her features, and Martin was instantly struck with the remarkable similarity of her face to his own. (ee) Eomicbooks