Yet amongst all that is interesting in and about the cathedral nothing is more so than the Saxon Chapel under the crypt. It is the earliest known place of worship in the kingdom, its architecture being about the seventh century. We light our candles and follow the verger down the stone steps. The descent is a trifle treacherous. There are little niches in the wall where candles are placed. Then we enter the chapel. It is perfectly dark, and smells very earthy. A hole in one side of the wall is pointed out. Tradition says that in the old days, when people had anything suspicious against them, they were brought to this spot. If they succeeded in crawling through to the other side they were blameless; if they could not, they were unquestionably guilty. It is also said that the young damsel who creeps through is sure to get married within the year. Be this as it may, I was assured that very recently a Yorkshire farmer brought his three daughters and sought permission for them to crawl through the lucky hole. Another daughter who had been through succeeded in getting married, and the father of the remaining trio was anxious for them to see whether a journey through the wall might not help him to more readily dispose of his daughters! [Illustration: THE DEAN OF RIPON. _From a Photo. by Elliott & Fry._] HARRY HOW. _A Little Surprise._[A] ADAPTED FROM THE FRENCH OF ABRAHAM DREYFUS BY CONSTANCE BEERBOHM. [Illustration] CHARACTERS: SIR WILLIAM BEAUCHAMP, BART. (43). LADY FLORENCE BEAUCHAMP (39). KATE DUGDALE (18). MR. JAMES DUGDALE (23). PORTER, _the Lady's-maid_ (30). SCENE: _A country drawing-room. A French window opening on to a flower garden at the back of the stage. Doors right and left. A sofa, arm-chairs, smaller chairs, etc._ _At the rise of the curtain, JEM and KITTY are discovered sitting with their backs to one another, evidently sulking. JEM looks round every now and then, trying to catch his wife's eye, and she studiously avoids his glance. At length their eyes meet._ JEM (_rises_): No! I tell you I can't stand it! KITTY: And why not? I always went out with the guns at home. JEM: "At home" and your husband's house are two very different places. KITTY: So I find! JEM: And I have told you over and over again I detest to see any woman--more especially a girl of eighteen, like yourself--tramping over the moors in gaiters, and a skirt by a long way too short! KITTY: Perhaps, with your old-maidish ideas, you would like to see me taking my walks abroad with a train as long as my Court frock! JEM: Perversity! KITTY: I only know that papa, mamma, and grandmamma always said---- JEM: Ah! But your grandmother---- KITTY: How dare you speak in that way of dear grandmamma? JEM: I never said a word against her---- KITTY: But you were going to! JEM: Nothing of the sort. KITTY (_repeats_): I only know that papa, mamma, and grandmamma always said---- JEM: Oh, Heavens! (_He escapes._)