“The cathedral!” said Hal, after he had been seated in the coach about a quarter of an hour, and had somewhat recovered from his sickness—“the cathedral! Why, are we only going to Bristol to see the cathedral? I thought we came out to see about a uniform.”
There was a dulness and melancholy kind of stupidity in Hal’s countenance as he pronounced these words, like one wakening from a dream, which made both his uncle and his cousin burst out a-laughing.
“Why,” said Hal, who was now piqued, “I’m sure you did say, uncle, you would go to Mr. Hall’s to choose the cloth for the uniform.”
“Very true, and so I will,” said Mr. Gresham; “but we need not make a whole morning’s work, need we, of looking at a piece of cloth? Cannot we see a uniform and a cathedral both in one morning?”
They went first to the cathedral. Hal’s head was too full of the uniform to take any notice of the painted window, which immediately caught Ben’s embarrassed attention. He looked at the large stained figures on the Gothic window, and he observed their coloured shadows on the floor and walls.
Mr. Gresham, who perceived that he was eager on all subjects to gain information, took this opportunity of telling him several things about the lost art of painting on glass, Gothic arches, etc., which Hal thought extremely tiresome.
“Come! come! we shall be late indeed,” said Hal; “surely you’ve looked long enough, Ben, at this blue and red window.”
“I’m only thinking about these coloured shadows,” said Ben.
“I can show you when we go home, Ben,” said his uncle, “an entertaining paper upon such shadows.” [194]
“Hark!” cried Ben, “did you hear that noise?” They all listened; and they heard a bird singing in the cathedral.