He talked of Gothic and Renaissance and Perpendicular, and Early English and Norman. The words thrilled her.

“Have you been to Southwell?” he said. “I was there at twelve o'clock at midday, eating my lunch in the churchyard. And the bells played a hymn.

“Ay, it's a fine Minster, Southwell, heavy. It's got heavy, round arches, rather low, on thick pillars.

It's grand, the way those arches travel forward.

“There's a sedilia as well — pretty. But I like the main body of the church — and that north porch — ”

He was very much excited and filled with himself that afternoon. A flame kindled round him, making his experience passionate and glowing, burningly real.