Fabiola : or, The church of the catacombs - Digital Repository Services

change had taken place.
wardens' pew, and behind it a graceful
THE VISION OF OLD ANDRUW THE WEAVER.
There had formerly born the church-
arch lind been walled
up, so as to cut off a portion of the aisle, and form the vestry
by the side of the chancel. But the pew and the wall, and another
too which had filled up an arch opening into the chancel
itself had vanished, and been replaced by screens, if possible,
of more delicate and fairy-like tracery than the great one beneath
the rood : and now this desolate looking recess, in which
an uncouth iron-bound chest and sundry pegs on which to hang
the parson's gown and surplice had been the only furniture,
had become a chapel, where ornaments and enrichments had
been bestowed with a more lavish hand than in any other part
of the church which Andrew had as yet seen. Nor was it diffi-
cult to guess the reason the tower of ivory, the mystic ark, the
star, the lily, and many other emblems of her whom all generations
were to call blessed, and which were scattered over the
walls, the beams, the rafters, and the screens, would have sufticvntiy
shown to what sweet saint this spot was dedicated, even
if there had not been just outside, beneath a canopy of azure
and gold, the statue of this most blessed amongst women, holding
in her arms the thrice blessed fruit of her womb.
Just opposite this lovely chapel, but a little way removed into
the centre of the aisle, was a figure of one who seemed to
have chosen this spot for his resting-place, that so he might
sleep secure beneath the glance of Mary. Andrew well recollected
the ponderous tomb but it hod been ;
sadly dilapidated,
and almost hidden too by cumbrous pews. But now it stood
alone in the centre of the aisle, protected by a low railing of
curiously wrought iron, with sockets at the angles for wax
tapers, which even now were there and burning brightly, as if
emblematic of the hope that had lighted them. The tomb it-
Belf was polished black marble, divided at the aide into com-
and in each compartment was
partments by canopied tracery ;
the hooded figure of a beadsman engaged in prayer. Upon the
of the candles
that burnt around the tomb ; its hands were clasped as in the
marble effigy, but its face was upturned towards that of the
blessed Mary, with an expression of most ardent supplication.
The curiosity excited by this spectacle, mode Andrew look
round for the old verger to ask for an explanation, when, for the
first time, he perceived that the bewilderment caused by the
unlocked for burst of glory which he had been surveying, had
hindered him from observing that the church was full of people.
It was really thronged, with the exception of a narrow
space down the middle of the nave, which served at once for a
passage and to divide the sexes, for the men wer i ranged on the
epistle side, the women, with one exception, that of the mailclad
knight, on the other. Like him all were on their knees ;
They were of all ages and conditions in life, and dressed
after a strange variety of fashions; but Andrew could not help
remarking, how, generally speaking, those who wore what he
fancied to be the most ancient costume, were nearest to the
chancel, and that the dress gradually became, more modern as it
approached the door, so much so that at the very bottom of the
church he. fancied he could recognize some cloaks and bonnets
he could not cull to mind
which were quite familiar to him, yet
who had been the wearers of tham.
He would very much have wished to draw closer to some of
these and speak to them, but he dared not, for it seemed to him
as if it would be a cruelty to disturb their devotions. IItented
himself, therefore, willi looking at them, till their devo-
tion seemed to become contagious, for the desire to join in it
came strongly upon him, and he would have knelt down by
the side of the black knight, before the shrine of Mary, had notthe
old verger, who was still at hie side, touched him, and
whispered to him, "Not yet, Andrew, your turn is not come
yet."
The sound of his voice, though he spoke in a whisper,
startled Andrew for a moment, so discordant did it seem with
the silent devotion of the mute figures around; but still it broko
the magic of the scene, so that he himself no longer feared to
speak, and to ask the meaning of what he saw.
"It is given to us, Andrew," his companion replied, "to know
many things that go on in the world we have left, especially if
they concern us in any way; and this is permitted to us both as
a punishment and a consolation. You have wished to die, that
you may escape the troubles that threaten you. You have
been holding converse with those who have been condemned,
but cannot find any one among them with whom you would
lite to change places. Another trial is now permitted to you.
Is there any one here with whom you would make an exchange,
I suppose I needn't mention myself; the poor verger, who has
only just entered upon his office, cannot hope to give up his
charge so soon. Well, God's will be done." And h cast a
look of unbounded resignation on the rood, where hung Jesus
between Mary and John.
"What!" said Andrew, "you don't mean to say that any one
here, aye, even yourself, would be willing to change places
with me. Would you leave this glorious church to return to
the rough world to live in such a cottage as mine is ? You
have seen it, you say, then you know how poor it is, yet it is
slab was the recumbent effigy of a knight, all clothed in armor.
His bare head rested on his plumed helmet, his feet were supported
by a noble dog, the emblem of fidelity, and his hands
w?re clasped upon his breast as if in prayer.
Out what most astonished Andrew, who, in his admiration of
the changed aspect of the old church, had unconsciously wandered
to the Lady chapel just described, was, to see by the side
of his tomb, a little in advance of it, so as to be directly opposite
the statue of the Virgin Mother, a kneeling figure the exact
counterpart of that on the monument. It was clothed in dark
but sbining armor, that reflected back the changed, aye sadly changed,
light ever since then. O, for my part,
I would wish for nothing better than to live and die here."
"Yet," his guide proceeded, "there is not one here who
would not joyfully change places with you. Aye, if your cottage
and your lot were ten times worse than they are, only the
more joyfully would they be welcomed."
"How!" cried Andrew. "Why," and he began again to be
afraid "who are you?"
"O, no fear," said the verger, ''we are your brethren, and
loving ones too, and grateful."
"Grateful, for what?" asked Andrew, "what can I have
done to deserve your love ?"
"Have you not often," replied his venerable guide, and he
looked at him with an expression of the most thankful affection
as he spoke, "when you knelt before the altar of the little
the souls of the
chapel there down in the valley, prayed, '
faithful departed rest in peace?
' 1:
May
In an instant the truth flashed on the mind of Andrew.
These whom he beheld kneeling before the image of Him who
died for them, were the bodies of souls in purgatory : and they
were employing this their night of freedom, not like the condemned
wretches outside, in gaiety and and jollity, but in earn-
like him, too, all seemed engaged in silent but no doubt most
earnest prayer, for they seemed insensible to everything around
them their hands were ; clasped firmly together, and their
breasts wero heaving, not rapidly indeed, nor convulsively, yet
with an energy that told better than words of the desires that
were pent up within.
est prayer, if so they might move heaven to shorten the period
of imprisonment.
How did he not now look upon them with an increased interest
and a loving pity. A feeling of veneration even caine over
him, for he knew that though they were now barred from heaven,
yet was their salvation secure ; that soon, some of them
perhaps in a few days, would be reigning amongst the
saints in bliss and ; that, at the day of judgment, every one of
these bodies, even that of the ragged and limping verger at flis
side, would be seen shining brighter than stars, aud clothed in
garments more brilliant than the sun.
Aroused by the thought, he once more cast his eyes around,
to see if he could recognize any of the old frequenters of the
chapel amongst the '
congregation. For he himself had fol
many to their last home, under the north wall of the church,
yj\rd, where most of the Catholics had been buried ; but. :IK
before, kis curiosity was foiled. Many a drees of very rh