XLVIII.
A CHURCH HIGHER YET.
SISTERS, we never spoke a word all the way to St. Stephen's Church, which is not a mite higher, and not near so handsome as a good many other meeting-houses we had to pass. A crowd of people were going in, and we followed into the darkness; for the whole space was full of gloom, like a foggy sunset. Here and there lights shone out like stars in a cloud, just enough to make the gloom strike home. The church was shaped like a cross, and had more than one altar in it. That which stood at the head of the broad aisle had just lights enough around it to make its whiteness ghostly, and to tremble over a great picture back of it, where figures in some harrowing scene seemed to come and go in the foggy air.
Yes, the air was foggy and thick, with sweet-smelling smoke, that came from some brass lamps a couple of little boys were a swinging back and forth by chains linked to them; and there, standing right in front of the altar, was a man all draped out in black robes, and a white overdress, praying. Sisters, it was awful solemn; I couldn't but just keep from sobbing right out.
"Look!" says E. E.; "isn't the chapel of the Virgin beautiful?"
I did look; and there at my left stood an altar covered with flowers, and blazing with lights starting up like a crown of glory through the darkness.
"Why is that altar so bright, while all the rest of the meeting-house is almost dark?" I whispers to E. E.
"That is the chapel of the Virgin, and there lies the body of Christ."
"The body of Christ!" says I, with a start.
"Yes," says she, bowing her head. "You cannot see it, for the flowers cover it, as we strew them over the graves of those we love; but the holy body of our Lord is there, waiting for the resurrection."