_The Verger._ The tracery, ma'am? That was restored at the same time by a local man--and a shocking job he made of it, too! _The Plast. S._ Yes, it _quite_ spoils the cathedral, _doesn't_ it? Couldn't it be taken down? _The Verger_ (_in answer to another Inquirer_). Crowborough Cathedral finer than this, Sir? Oh, _dear_ me, no. I went over a-purpose to 'ave a look at it the last 'oliday I took, and I was quite surprised to find 'ow very inferior it was. The spire? I don't say that mayn't be 'igher as a mere matter of feet, but our lantern-tower is so 'appily proportioned as to give the effect of being by far the 'ighest in existence. _A Travelled S._ Ah, you should see the _continental_ cathedrals. Why, _our_ towers would hardly come up to the top of the naves of some of them! _The Verger_ (_loftily_). I don't take no notice of foreign cathedrals, Ma'am. If foreigners like to build so ostentatious, all I can say is, I'm sorry _for_ them. _A Lady_ (_who has provided herself with a "Manual of Architecture" and an unsympathetic Companion_). _Do_ notice the excessive use of the ball-flower as a decoration, dear. PARKER says it is especially characteristic of this cathedral. _Unsympathetic Companion._ I don't see _any_ flowers myself. And if they like to decorate for festivals and that, where's the harm? [_The Lady with the Manual perceives that it is hopeless to explain._ _The Verger._ The dog-tooth mouldings round the triforium harches is considered to belong to the best period of Norman work---- _The Lady with the Manual._ Surely not _Norman?_ Dog-tooth is Saxon, _I_ always understood. _The Verger_ (_indulgently_). You'll excuse _me_, Ma'am, but I fancy it's 'erringbone as is running in _your_ 'ed. _The Lady with the M._ (_after consulting "Parker" for corroboration, in vain_). Well, I'm sure dog-tooth is quite _Early English_, anyway. (_To her companion._) Did you know it was the interlacing of the round arches that gave the first idea of the pointed arch, dear? _Her Comp._ No. But I shouldn't have thought there was so very much in the _idea_. _The Lady with the M._ I do _wish_ you took more _interest_, dear. Look at those two young men who have just come in. They don't _look_ as if they'd care for carving; but they've been studying every one of the Miserere seats in the choir-stalls. That's what _I_ like to see! _The Verger._ That concludes my dooties, ladies and gentlemen. You can go out by the South Transep door, and that'll take you through the Cloisters. (_The Party go out, with the exception of the two 'Arries, who linger, expectantly, and cough in embarrassment._) Was there anything you wished to know? _First 'Arry._ Well, Mister, it's on'y--er--'aven't you got some old carving or other 'ere of a rather--well, _funny_ kind--sorter thing you on'y show to _gentlemen_, if you know what I mean?