It was a manner new to them both, though Maurice could not help thinking, as he listened, of Percy in his worst moods.
"I am glad to have seen it," the voice said, "and quite by chance, too; it is excessively interesting, so melancholy.

Ah! you say that they laid him just there?
It makes one shudder! No, I will not go near the place; it is too shocking." At the last words Maurice and Lucia saw the speaker emerge from behind the altar on the side furthest from where they stood.

She was a tall woman, neither young nor pretty, but very fashionable--distinguished, Lucia supposed she should be called; and but for the peculiarity of her voice, would have made a favourable rather than an unfavourable impression on a stranger.

She stopped just at the top of the steps, and turned round to speak again to some one behind her who was still concealed by the altar.

This time she spoke English in a lower tone, and with a greater drawl.
"Really, Edward," she said, "it is very small.