The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from The American by Henry James: Newman ascended the steps and immediately entered the open door.
Service had not yet begun; the place was dimly lighted, and it
was some moments before he could distinguish its features.
Then he saw it was divided by a large close iron screen into two
unequal portions. The altar was on the hither side of the screen,
and between it and the entrance were disposed several benches
and chairs. Three or four of these were occupied by vague,
motionless figures--figures that he presently perceived to
be women, deeply absorbed in their devotion. The place seemed
to Newman very cold; the smell of the incense itself was cold.
Besides this there was a twinkle of tapers and here and
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