The priest uttered a sigh so heavy that it had almost touched the lad into some sentiment of pity , and he bowed his head upon his hands like a man borne down below a weight of care . He joined no longer in the psalms ; but Dick could hear the beads rattle through his fingers and the prayers a-pattering between his teeth . Yet a little , and the grey of the morning began to struggle through the painted casements of the church , and to put to shame the glimmer of the tapers . The light slowly broadened and brightened , and presently through the south-eastern clerestories a flush of rosy sunlight flickered on the walls . The storm was over ; the great clouds had disburdened their snow and fled farther on , and the new day was breaking on a merry winter landscape sheathed in white . A bustle of church officers followed ; the bier was carried forth to the deadhouse , and the stains of blood were cleansed from off the tiles , that no such ill-omened spectacle should disgrace the marriage of Lord Shoreby . At the same time , the very ecclesiastics who had been so dismally engaged all night began to put on morning faces , to do honour to the merrier ceremony which was about to follow . And further to announce the coming of the day , the pious of the town began to assemble and fall to prayer before their favourite shrines , or wait their turn at the confessionals . Favoured by this stir , it was of course easily possible for any man to avoid the vigilance of Sir Daniel 's sentries at the door ; and presently Dick , looking about him wearily , caught the eye of no less a person than Will Lawless , still in his monk 's habit . The outlaw , at the same moment , recognised his leader , and privily signed to him with hand and eye . Now , Dick was far from having forgiven the old rogue his most untimely drunkenness , but he had no desire to involve him in his own predicament ; and he signalled back to him , as plain as he was able , to begone . Lawless , as though he had understood , disappeared at once behind a pillar , and Dick breathed again . What , then , was his dismay to feel himself plucked by the sleeve and to find the old robber installed beside him , upon the next seat , and , to all appearance , plunged in his devotions ! Instantly Sir Oliver arose from his place , and , gliding behind the stalls , made for the soldiers in the aisle . If the priest 's suspicions had been so lightly wakened , the harm was already done , and Lawless a prisoner in the church . `` Move not , '' whispered Dick . `` We are in the plaguiest pass , thanks , before all things , to thy swinishness of yestereven . When ye saw me here , so strangely seated where I have neither right nor interest , what a murrain I could ye not smell harm and get ye gone from evil ? '' `` Nay , '' returned Lawless , `` I thought ye had heard from Ellis , and were here on duty . '' `` Ellis ! ''
echoed XXXXX .
Daniel Dick Oliver a-pattering casements deadhouse ecclesiastics merrier morning murrain