"It is a matter of surprise to me," said the Squire, "that more care has not generally been taken to beautify the _external_ part of our church roofs. What relief is given to the long line of a nave roof by a good patterned row of ridge tiles, or by some ornamental ironwork on the ridge! The gable cross considerably relieves the chancel roof. And where the roof is of stone, why don't we have richly-carved _external_, as well as internal, stone-work? That, to my mind, is the perfection of a stone roof[190]." At this point, the attention of both was directed to little Harry, old Matthew's grandson, who, with a fixed expression of deep thoughtfulness, was looking up to wards the roof of the church. "Why so very serious just now, my dear boy? What may your thoughts be about, Harry?" said the Vicar. "Please, sir, I was wondering what they used to do with the roof-gallery, where we've been putting the evergreens?" "What does he mean by the roof-gallery?" said Mr. Acres. "Oh, he means the triforium[191]." "I must confess that is still more unintelligible to me. Please explain it to me, as well as to Harry, for we are evidently equally ignorant about it." "The triforium is the gallery you see just above the arches of the nave--between them and the clerestory. It is not commonly found in parish churches, but I believe all cathedrals have it. It generally extends nearly all round the building. There are different opinions as to its original purpose. Some suppose that it was reserved for the use of women. On the Continent, it has been set apart for young men, or for strangers. It is the opinion of some that it was merely built for affording ready access to the various parts of the roof. As an architectural feature, it is very effective, and occupies a space which would otherwise be a blank wall. In this country, however, we know that it was often used for a similar purpose to that for which we have now been using it--the ornamentation of the church on special festivals, when banners and tapestry and other ornaments were suspended from the several arches[192]." "I have often, like little Harry, looked up at those arches and wondered what they were built for; and, not knowing, I came to the conclusion that the passage must have been used for religious processions." "It is not at all improbable that occasionally they were so used. And I can hardly imagine any thing more solemn than a torch-light procession of chanting choristers threading their way round the sacred building, the sound of their voices undulating in solemn cadence as they would pass the arches of the triforium, and then dying away amid the groined or timber roof above them." Illustration: Clerestory Window _CHAPTER XXIX_ THE TOWER "The house that is to be builded for the Lord must be exceeding magnifical." 1 Chron. xxii. 5. "Lift it gently to the steeple, Let our bell be set on high; There fulfil its daily mission, Midway 'twixt the earth and sky.