Avon Fantasy Reader No. 12 — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

— — One evening, about nine o'clock, Mr. Worby knocked at his lodger’s ' door. “Ive occasion,” he said, “to go across to the Cathedral, Mr. Lake, and I think I made you a promise when I did so next I would give you the opportunity to see what it looks like at night time. It’s quite fue and dry outside, if you care to come.” : “To be sure | will; very much obliged to you, Mr. Worby, for think- ing of it, but let me get my coat.’ “Here it is, sir, and I’ve another lantern here that youll find advis- able for the steps, as there’s no moon.” “Anyone might think we were Jasper and Durdles, over again, mightn’t they?” said Lake, as they crossed the close, for he had ascertained that the Verger had read Ediwin Drood. “Well, so they might,” said Mr. Worby, with a short laugh, “though 1 don’t know whether we ought to take it as a compliment. Odd ways, 1 often think, they had at that Cathedral, don't it seem so to you, sir? Full choral matins at seven o'clock in the morning all the year round. Wouldn't suit our boys’ voices nowadays, and I think there’s one or two of the men would be applying for a rise if the Chapter was to bring it in--particular the altos.” f They were now at the south-west door. As Mr. Worby was unlock- . ing it, Lake said, “Did you ever find anybody locked in here by accident?” “Twice 1 did. One was a drunk sailor; however he got in I don’t know. I s’pose he went to sleep in the service, but by the time I got to him he was praying fit to bring the rool in. Lor! what a noise that man did make! said it was the first time he’d been inside a church for ten years, and blest if ever he'd try it again. The other was an old sheep: them boys it was, up to their games. That was the last time they tried it on, though. There, sir, now you see what we look like; our late Dean used now and again to bring parties in, but he preferred a moon- light night, and there was a piece of verse he'd coat to “em, relating to a Scotch cathedral, T understand; but I don’t know; I almost think the effect’s better when it’s all dark-like. Seems to add to the size and heighth. Now if you won't mind stopping somewhere in the nave while I go up into the choir where my usiness lays, you'll see what I mean.” Accordingly Lake waited, leaning against a pillar, and watched the light wavering along the length of the church, and up the steps into the choir, until it was intercepted by some screen or other furniture, which only allowed the reflection to be seen on the piers and roof, Not many minutes had passed before Worby reappeared at the door of the choir and by waving his lantern signalled to Lake to rejoin him. “] suppose it is Worby, and not a substitute,” thought Lake to him- self, as he walked up the nave. There was, in fact, nothing untoward. 103 ae comlichbooks.com