It wasn't too big to mind him.

It was as if the church knew he was there, and meant to make itself his house.

So it went on giving back an answer to every step, until at length Diamond thought he should like to say something out loud, and see what the church would answer.
But he found he was afraid to speak.

He could not utter a word for fear of the loneliness.

Perhaps it was as well that he did not, for the sound of a spoken word would have made him feel the place yet more deserted and empty.