the undertaker.

Several boxes of flowers came.

Later from a milliner's shop two pretty autumn hats arrived.

The guests began arriving--silent, awkward strangers--ten or twelve.

She heard the nurse come in with Susette and take her back to the
nursery.

There was no music. Not a sound.

At last the silence was broken by the minister's low voice. Thank
heaven that was kindly. He was brief, and yet too long; for from the
apartment one flight below, before he had finished, the festive throb of
a little orchestra was heard.

He prayed just a minute or two.

Then they followed the coffin out into the hall and back and down by the
freight elevator.

A motor hearse was waiting below.


When the burial was over, she came home alone with Joe. She sat in the
living-room watching his face, while the dusk grew mercifully deep.
Then she made him eat some supper and take something to make him sleep.
And later in her own small room she lay on her bed, dishevelled,