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           ForinthehourofourdeathOurLordJesusChristiswithus,withinus,bearingtheburdenofouragony.Notthegreatestnorthehumblestlivingbeingdiesalone,anddeathissweet.Wearegatheredheretoprayforherimmortalsoul,thatshewhomwelovedinlifeshallenjoyherjustandeternalreward.Letuspray."

           Themakeshiftcoffinwassocoveredinrosesitcouldnotbeseen,anditresteduponasmallwheeledcarttheboyshadcannibalizedfromvariouspiecesoffarmequipment.Evenso,withthewindowsgapingopenandtheoverpoweringscentofroses,theycouldsmellher.Thedoctorhadbeentalking,too.

           "WhenIreachedDroghedashewassorottenthatIjustcouldn’tholdmystomach,"hesaidonthepartylinetoMartinKing."I’veneverfeltsosorryforanyoneinallmylifeasIdidthenforPaddyCleary,notonlybecausehe’sbeendoneoutofDroghedabutbecausehehadtoshovethatawfulseethingheapinacoffin."

           "ThenI’mnotvolunteeringfortheofficeofpallbearer,"Martinsaid,sofaintlybecauseofallthereceiversdownthatthedoctorhadtomakehimrepeatthestatementthreetimesbeforeheunderstoodit.

           Hencethecart;noonewaswillingtoshouldertheremainsofMaryCarsonacrossthelawntothevault.Andnoonewassorrywhenthevaultdoorswereclosedonherandbreathingcouldbecomenormalatlast.

           Whilethemournersclusteredinthebigdiningroomeating,ortryingtolookasiftheywereeating,HarryGoughconductedPaddy,hisfamily,FatherRalph,Mrs.Smithandthetwomaidstothedrawingroom.