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An open door leading to a small room or cell, dim with the light that
came through leaves of ivy, completed the interior of this portion of
the ruin. It was not quite destitute of furniture. A few strange chairs,
whose arms and legs looked as though they had dwindled away with
age; a table, the very spectre of its race: a great old chest that had
once held records in the church, with other quaintly-fashioned
domestic necessaries, and store of fire-wood for the winter, were
scattered around, and gave evident tokens of its occupation as a
dwelling-place at no very distant time.
The child looked around her, with that solemn feeling with which we
contemplate the work of ages that have become but drops of water in
the great ocean of eternity. The old man had followed them, but they
were all three hushed for a space, and drew their breath softly, as if
they feared to break the silence even by so slight a sound.
'
It is a very beautiful place!' said the child, in a low voice.
'
'
I almost feared you thought otherwise,' returned the schoolmaster.
You shivered when we first came in, as if you felt it cold or gloomy.'
'
'
It was not that,' said Nell, glancing round with a slight shudder.
Indeed I cannot tell you what it was, but when I saw the outside, from
the church porch, the same feeling came over me. It is its being so old
and grey perhaps.'
'A peaceful place to live in, don't you think so)' said her friend.
'Oh yes,' rejoined the child, clasping her hands earnestly. 'A quiet,
happy place - a place to live and learn to die in!' She would have said
more, but that the energy of her thoughts caused her voice to falter,
and come in trembling whispers from her lips.
'A place to live, and learn to live, and gather health of mind and body
in,' said the schoolmaster; 'for this old house is yours.'
'
'
Ours!' cried the child.
Ay,' returned the schoolmaster gaily, 'for many a merry year to come,
I hope. I shall be a close neighbour - only next door - but this house is
yours.'
Having now disburdened himself of his great surprise, the
schoolmaster sat down, and drawing Nell to his side, told her how he
had learnt that ancient tenement had been occupied for a very long
time by an old person, nearly a hundred years of age, who kept the
keys of the church, opened and closed it for the services, and showed
it to strangers; how she had died not many weeks ago, and nobody
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