The funeral took place without causing any real stir. It was the time of late-winter, early-spring plowing, and none of the county people came merely in search of diversion. Some of the townspeople attended, but not very many. Embarrassment prevailed for once over curiosity. The church was less than half filled, and the brief ceremony in the cemetery could boast only a single row of mourners. The sisters and their husbands were there, but none of the husbands’ families. Leon and Sarah stood together, and next to them were Edna Davis and Rooster. The children had come with them, but Edna had sent them to wait in the buckboard after the church service. She did not consider it good for them to stand in the cold cemetery before an open grave while final prayers were said. It was too soon after their mother’s death. Trudy had died last November in the winter’s first epidemic of influenza.

When the final pieties had been droned out, they turned from the grave and walked away. Edna put her arm through Sarah’s, and Rooster fell into step and conversation with Leon. Edna looked younger and ruddier than she had in years, the result of her being needed and important again. She steered Sarah to the Davis plot and paused.

Looking down she sighed. “Her grave still looks so new, even with the nice stone. Well, time will make it more natural, like my Benjamin’s.” As they then turned and walked back to the main path, they saw Leon and Rooster waiting at the gate, talking earnestly together—“about the new crop.” Edna guessed, and chuckled.

The important question that had so concerned Leon on the day of Clarence’s suicide was not asked. As day followed day, Leon decided that it would be as well not to show his concern, to let Roscoe come to it when he had to. And just so, it happened. Roscoe sought an interview. The occasions of Roscoe’s “seeking an interview” had been rare, the most memorable being those on which he announced his intention of marrying Clovis and of buying her.

Sarah was with Leon in the office to receive him. After bowing his head briefly and formally to each of them, he began to speak.