noon
Hugh and his friends seated themselves in the stalls ; and then for an hour the great organ uttered its voice -- now a soft and delicate strain , a lonely flute or a languid reed outlining itself upon the movement of the accompaniment ; or at intervals the symphony worked up to a triumphant outburst , the trumpets crashing upon the air , and a sudden thunder outrolling ; the great pedals seeming to move , like men walking in darkness , treading warily and firmly ; until the whole ended with a soft slow movement of perfect simplicity and tender sweetness , like the happy dying of a very old and honourable person , who has drunk his fill of life and blessings , and closes his eyes for very weariness and gladness , upon labour and praise alike . The only shadow of this beautiful hour was that in this rapt space of tranquil reflection one seemed to have harmonised and explained life , joy and disaster alike , to have wound up a clue , to have brought it all to a peaceful and perfect climax of silence , like a tale that is told ; and then it was necessary to go out to the world again with all its bitterness , its weariness , its dissatisfaction -- till one almost wondered whether it was wise or brave to have chased and captured this strange phantom of imagined peace . Yes , it was wise sometimes , Hugh felt sure ! to have refused it would have been like refusing to drink from a cool and bubbling wayside spring , as one fared on a hot noon over the shimmering mountain-side -- refused , in a spirit of false austerity , for fear that one would thirst again through the dreary leagues ahead . As long as one remembered that it was but an imagined peace , that one had not attained it , it was yet well to remember that the peace was real , that it existed somewhere , even though it was still shut within the heart of God . However slow the present progress , however long the road , it was possible to look forward in hope , to know that one would move more blithely and firmly when the time should come for the desired peace to be given one more abundantly ; it helped one , as one stumbled and lingered , to look a little further on , and to say , `` I will run the way of Thy commandments , when Thou hast set my heart at liberty . '' Pictorial Art -- Hand and Soul -- Turner -- Raphael -- Secrets of Art Hugh 's professional life had given him little opportunity for indulging artistic tastes .