The Argosy — page 151: what you’re looking at

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

On the Wye. 139 himself, including the boots. Leaving directions with the landlady to have it carefully forwarded to the Ludlow station, we departed. The result of this unlucky mistake was that the box in due time reached Ludlow. When opened half the contents were found to have escaped, half to have fallen victims. Handles and spouts were | lying slaughtered. And A. fell back, in consolation, upon the con- venient theory that cracked and mended china becomes more valuable by the process. “You are rightly punished,” was all the consolation I received as we went through Chepstow, “for giving in to that stupid waiter. It was running a most imprudent risk.” “For my own part,” added E., “I don’t one bit regret the china. It was the ugliest collection of eccentric curiositles I ever beheld. ‘But if our bonnets on their road to Worcester share a similar fate, I for one shall not stir from the hotel to-morrow.” And doubtless she would have been as good as her word. The train passed over the bridge in the very midst of the exquisite surrounding scenery, which is more like a dream than reality, and pursued its way to Gloucester. Here we spent a few hours with the cathedral, which is of far greater beauty than that of Hereford. Then onwards again, until at length we found ourselves at Worcester, and in the comfortable quarters of the Star Hotel. Here we were fortunate. They had reserved their best rooms for us; and in the end we found their charges just and reasonable : a fact worth chronicling. One of the first questions from the ladies concerned the luggage. It had arrived in safety. The bonnets were in pristine preservation. This information visibly raised their spirits ; and a glance of triumph out of three pairs of eyes informed me that some people managed things better than others who trusted to the tender mercies of head waiters. I found nothing to reply. It was Saturday night, and the town, up to a late hour, was noisy with bustle and traffic. Sunday morning, with its repose and peace, and the service at the cathedral, which we had not seen since its complete restoration. The exterior of Worcester Cathedral has little to recommend it. It is some- what heavy, dull, plain, and unadorned; guiltless of gurgoyles, flying buttresses, or delicate tracery of any description. But how describe the sight that burst upon the view on passing through the north door- way into the interior? It seemed almost that we beheld a vision, not an earthly scene. Some people have found fault with the restoration, declaring it to be not in the best taste, too ornamental, not sufficiently severe. To us it appeared perfect ; and I could almost venture to assert that no cathedral in England can now rival the interior of Worcester. For the night service it was lighted up ; and, as the preacher observed in his sermon, the sight seemed to be more that of a heavenly 4 vision than an earthly reality. This service was held in the nave, but the lay- comicbooks.com