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of open graves, was Parson Hedley, with a single gravedigger standing beside him.
    Parson Hedley watched the small procession come towards him and he too shook his head at the sight of the children.
    But then he thought Joe would have wanted it this way and she, better than anyone, would know that. But still it wasn't right. He now went up to Cissie and touched her lightly on the arm and nodded at her twice but didn't speak before turning to Mr. Snell and saying, "I'm glad you managed it, John." And John Snell said piously, "Out of respect.
    Parson. Out of respect." Then the driver of the cart and the gravedigger, with no ceremony whatever, pulled a coffin from the cart and placed it over two ropes. When they had taken up the ends they looked at Parson Hedley, and he, indicating to Cissie with a wave of his hand that she place the children round the grave, opened the Bible, and the service began.
    Parson Hedley wasn't a good preacher. It was said that his sermons were the best "sleeping dose" one could have, but it was also said it was with works and not words that he carried out his Christian duties.
    As they placed the second coffin on the first, Mary began to cry loudly and Cissie, reaching out, drew her tightly against her side, but all the while she stared down into the grave, and as she stared she wondered what was the matter with her. Was she going funny in the head? Because, instead of crying like Mary, she was wondering if her ma was lying on top of her da or the other way about, and in which coffin they had put the baby; likely with her mother, but then you never knew, not for sure. When Parson Hedley's voice droned "Ashes to ashes" she put her hand over her mouth because her mind was reciting the parody that her da used to say, "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if the Lord won't have you the devil must." What was the matter with her?
    She had no feeling in her chest now, she felt numb all over. Was she going off her head?
    When William sniffled and coughed, then made a choking sound as he drooped his head forward on to his chest, she put her free hand on his shoulder and gripped it tightly. Now Sarah started to cry, but her crying was quiet. Like her nature, everything was toned down.
    When the gravedigger started to shovel the earth rapidly on to the coffins, the hollow sound of the lumps of clay hitting the wood reverberated against Cissie's temples and she had the terrifying desire to jump into the hole and throw the dirt out again.
    "Come away. Come away." She allowed Parson Hedley to turn her from the grave. The children were tightly gathered around her now, even Jimmy, and Parson Hedley, putting his hand on one head after the other said, "Leave your sister for a moment. You go on with them, Jimmy"
    --he nodded to the dry-eyed boy"--I want to talk to Cissie."
    They stood aside and let her walk from their midst, but their eyes remained tight on her. Parson Hedley stopped at the end of the path and, bending forwards, said, "Now have you thought about what you are going to do, Cissie?"
    She wagged her head several times before she spoke.
    "Yes, Parson."
    "You're going to let Mr. Riper deal with it?"
    "No, no. Parson, we're not goin' there. We might all be separated, might never see each other again. I'll look after them."
    "How?" He moved his head slowly from side to side, then added, "You've got to be sensible, Cissie. How can you possibly provide for nine children?"
    "As I said. Parson, we can work. If I can find work and see to them I will, but failing that I'll find something for the three top ones."
    Oh, dear Lord. Dear Lord. Parson Hedley now joined his palms together and made the sucking sound in the characteristic attitude that was his when troubled, and he looked up into the low sky that was threatening rain; then, as if finding another question there, he brought his head down to her again and now asked, "But where will you live?"
    "Live?" As her eyes sprung wide her mouth went into a gape; then she spoke as