kindly-Our showman-Dazzling treasures-Father Anselmo-Romantic story-Heaven or the world?-Doubts-The gentle Rosalie decides-Sister Anastasia-Told in the sacristy-A heart-confession-Anselmo's mysticism

ed light"-Ruined citadel-War of Succession-Alvarez and Marsh

rough narrow, tortuous, deserted wynds until we

les, its grey walls of exactly the same tone as the cathedral, was the Bishop's Palace, its picturesque windows guarded by ancient ironwork. Why so carefully secured? Had the medi?val bishops feared a rev

After a time pillars and arches and outlines grew more or less visi

at it created consternation in the minds of Bishop, Dean and Chapter then ruling. Council after council was summoned and opinions were taken from the

hat the new was no improvement on the old. This was not the case with Gerona. The cathedral was rebuilt in 1016, but the nave was reserved for Boffy and his genius four hundred years later. That early cathedral was turned into

with a clear width of seventy-three feet. Toulouse, next in width, has sixty-three feet; Westminster Abbey only thirty-eight feet. For the effect of contrast the smaller choir and aisles throw up

o show them. The priests take the office in turn. To-day he whose turn it was proved unamiable. "He would not show them; had other things to do; we must come another day," hurriedly buttoning his heavy black cloak as he spo

show us the treasures if we would wait whilst he sought the keys. With these he soon returned and thought he had been

and jewelled crooks and crosses, enamelled plates and chalice, a wealth of gold and silver ornaments, many dating back to the twelfth century. Some of the crosses were magnificent in design and execution, some had strange and interesting histories. Then he showed us rare and wonderful needlewor

ble it had cost to see them. Moreover we were brought into cont

CLOISTER

s silver chiming. I was never happy but in church, attending on the priests, filling every office permitted to a boy. From the age of ten I determined to be a priest myself and never lost sight of that hope-though I once hesitated. But I was poor, and don't know whether it would have come to pass unaided by one of our can

wished the question, and there was something so interes

and was free to choose. Should it be earth or heaven? Few perhaps have been more completely enthralled than I. Walking and sleeping my tho

s an indication that Heaven favoured our desires? It was a sore strait and perhaps we should not have done wrong to yield. During the daylight hours it seemed so. But night after night I awoke with one verse ringing in my ears: 'He that having put his hand to the plough looketh back, is not fit for the Kingdom of Heaven.' In my excited, almost diseased i

my own decision I know not how it would have ended: perhap

ir best and brightest, song and perfume filled the air, I received a letter in the beloved handwriting. Befo

together. Her face was full of a divine love and pity, and O so sad and sympathising. Suddenly she pointed and I saw two roads before me. On each I recognised myself. On the one broad road you walked with me hand

int vision of Paradise-I knew you had passed to the higher life. Then my mother turned and spoke. Her voice still rings in my ears. "My child, in the world you should have tribulation such as you are not fitted to bear. Your path lies heavenward." Then she pointed upwards, seemed gradually to fade away, and

F CATHEDRA

, heart-broken. The serene skies and laughing sunshine seemed to mock at my calamity. Earthly dreams were over. Never for a moment did I question Rosalie's decision or seek to turn it aside. I prayed for

ie? She st

F SAN PEDR

ther as in the days of our youth, but it is love purified and refined, containing a thousand-fold more of real happiness than our first passionate ecstasy. If we are to believe her vision, I shall be the first to enter the da

o of romance surrounded our priestly guide; his pale, refined face glowed with a light from which, as he said, all earthly dross was purified. And yet he was evidently very human; sympathies and affections were not straitened;

of the great sacristy door echoed through the silent aisles. More beautiful and impressive seemed the wonderful interior each time we entered; a vision of arches and rare columns and exquisite windows wonderfully solemn and sacre

earthly ears; the rustle of angels' wings surrounds me. These visions or experiences-call them what you will-have generally occurred after long fastings, when the spirit probably is less restrained by mortal bonds. But underlying all my days and action, an intangible incentive for good, I feel the influence of Rosalie. You see I am

AY AND BISHOP'S

this man? In the course of a few moments we felt we had known him for years. He was singularly lovable and attractive. Underlying all his gentleness was an undercurrent of strength; an evident self-reliance, yet the reliance of one who

slender pillars and lofty roof, the distant choir with aisles and arches visible and invisible

n with my key, and in these solitary aisles withdrawn from the world to hold communion with the unseen. Here strength has come to fight life's battles. Here I have composed many a sermon, here silently confessed my sins to

ship to wish it otherwise. He added much to the spell of our surroundings; a central figure from which all interest radiate

fluence. There they stood, an irregular quadrangle, the simple, beautiful round arches resting on coupled shafts, whose carve

SAN PEDR

e of my life-but my triumph also. For here I bade my earthly farewell to Rosalie; on this very spot on which we stand renounced all human hopes and claims upon her and gave her into Heaven's keep

the silvery river ran its winding course listening to the love-songs of the reeds and rushes. Near us was the lovely octagon tower, shorn of its spire.

intance of Miguel the carpenter. He seems to care little that where now is heard the fret of saw a

ns. To-day there was no sense of mystery about streets and houses; daylight loves to disillusion. We had to content ourselves with quaint gables and old-world outlines. Behind us was one of the ancient gateways strong and massive, leading directly into the precincts of the cathedral. Fra

fern-leaf capitals. Above the doorway is a very effective cornice and above that an admirable rose window: altogether a rare example of the Italian Romanesque. The whole church is very striking, with its fine octagonal tower and Norman apses built into the old town walls. Just beyond

es and piers plain and square. There was something cold and pagan about the general effect, exaggerated

said. "Instead of living in a refined, almost celestial atmosphere, existen

of the cathedral, they were almost as beautiful

lmo. "The work of destruction was due to the French in the Peni

and ancient crosses: a museum of antiquities: and the Norman arches resting upon their marble shafts were a wonderful setting to the whole.

F SAN PED

wer crowns a red-tiled roof with slightly overhanging eaves. Beneath the eaves repose small blind arcades, and here and there in the lower hall other arcades are gradually crumbling away. The won

penter's shop, it is full of the sound of hammer and plane. In one corner, men are melting glue and heating irons at a huge fireplace. The floor is uneven and below the level o

was probably a man who did not trouble himself about religion, but his

tness in it after all. Was not Joseph a carpenter? and did not our Saviour work in the carpenter's shop? So that, as it seems to me, it has become noble above all other callings. And so, if this

t of rebukes. "Yet, Miguel, how often have I said there is good in you-an apprehens

ng hard, treating my wife well, looking after my children. But somehow I can't go to confession-what have I to confess, in the name of wonder?-and I never feel a bit

Miguel's objections, though he could not tell him so. He only looked a vain remonstra

way a stone, so I seldom neglect to put in a word when we meet, though to-day I might for your sake have refrained. It will tell in the end," nodding to Miguel, "for he has a conscience and I will not let it rest. And what a building in which to preach a sermon!" looking upwards and around. "These blackened vaults, those massive time-defying walls, this earthy, uneven floor-everything suggests a pagan rather than Christian past. If anything could heighten the effect it is those weird workers at the fire with face

iguel, "and that proceeding from your revered and beloved person. I shal

in attitude outside his door intimated that he should like to be taken with our instantaneous camera. This was done and the result promised in due

ED CHURC

ld have been a master of the world. But I always feel that the lives and destinies of such men, missed here, will be carried on to perfection in a

ithin the once formidable fortress. Much remained to show the strength of

n 1809 the French besieged her with thirty-five thousand men. Alvarez, who was then Governor-you will have observed his house in the cathedral square-was terribly handicapped. He had little food and scarcely any ammunition, but was one of the bravest and wisest men of Spain. The siege was long and fierce, the suffering great. We were much helped by the English, but your gallant Colone

cessor was appointed whose first and last act was to capitulate. The siege had lasted nearly eight months, and the French lost fifteen thousand men. So," looking around, "we are o

THE WALL

d ever will be Gerona t

s most picturesque and interesting towns. Nature and art have combined to make it so-the art of the Middle Ages, not of to-day. A modern element exists, but the new and the old, t

RS OF S

mantic scene, and as we sat and pondered, citadel and plains seemed suddenly filled with a vast army; the ground trembled with the tramp of horsemen, march of troops. In imagination we saw the dead and dying, the bold resistance to human foes, the falling away before a foe that was not human. The air was full of the shout

luxuriant garden, with hanging shrubs and weeping trees and many fruits of the earth. To-day, it was a scene of peace and plenty; wars and rumours of wars might never have been or be again. Above all, within the ancient walls ros

okes of mid-day, and we listened in silence as the last fai

n linger with you, but duty calls me elsewhere. I

s intent gaze, our eyes rested upon a slight, graceful figure in the dress of a Religieuse, flitting silent

ready betrayed the fact. "She is bound on some erran