They passed the school, a new one, all concrete and glass. Conroy had plotted years to get it, besting the men from the Department who had wanted to close the old school and commute the children down the valley to the big school in Donore (that bloody, big infantarium, Conroy had called it). The Department’s statistical forecasts had proved to be better than Conroy’s; already the population had fallen so much that the new school was only two-thirds full. The teacher’s residence alongside lay derelict, and the teacher commuted every day from Donore. Conroy hadn’t liked that; he had always put his parish first, right or wrong, and expected everyone else to do the same.

As the hearse slowed to walking pace, the figure of Father Conroy’s uncle, James Conroy, the T.D., could be seen moving through the crowd, accepting condolences with practiced hand, now and then drawing a sympathizer in close to give or receive a whisper. In spite of his eighty-six years, James never missed a good funeral. Following someone’s coffin afforded him the perfect opportunity to conduct some little bit of political business in a decent and dignified way, as well as to pick up any floating votes. Although he still headed the poll in every election, he collected votes as a boy hoards chestnuts.

He came toward the priests, bearing his Anthony Eden hat on his chest like a great funeral medal.

“Ah, Father O’Hara, and Father Mahon!” He reached in to receive their hands. “Very good of you to come. Yes, very sad, yes indeed, yes, yes. Of course, poor Father Thomas had been failing for some time – he would never admit it, but it was quite clear to me.” He began to move on at sight of the Canon in the car behind. “It’s turned out a nice day for it, thanks be to God. He should bring a big crowd.”

And they could hear him continue at the window of the car behind, “Ah, Canon Fitzmaurice, how are ye? Yes, very sad, yes indeed, yes, yes.”

“Ever notice,” asked Father O’Hara as he rolled up the window, “that James has one ear bigger than the other? It’s always the one facing away from you – it picks up the background noises.”