and arms, but it were considered
wot the neighbours would look down on such and would be of opinions as it were
wanting in respect.«
    »Pocket-handkerchiefs out, all!« cried Mr. Trabb at this point, in a
depressed business-like voice - »Pocket-handkerchiefs out! We are ready!«
    So, we all put our pocket-handkerchiefs to our faces, as if our noses were
bleeding, and filed out two and two; Joe and I; Biddy and Pumblechook; Mr. and
Mrs. Hubble. The remains of my poor sister had been brought round by the kitchen
door, and, it being a point of Undertaking ceremony that the six bearers must be
stifled and blinded under a horrible black velvet housing with a white border,
the whole looked like a blind monster with twelve human legs, shuffling and
blundering along under the guidance of two keepers - the postboy and his
comrade.
    The neighbourhood, however, highly approved of these arrangements, and we
were much admired as we went through the village; the more youthful and vigorous
part of the community making dashes now and then to cut us off, and lying in
wait to intercept us at points of vantage. At such times the more exuberant
among them called out in an excited manner on our emergence round some corner of
expectancy, »Here they come!« »Here they are!« and we were all but cheered. In
this progress I was much annoyed by the abject Pumblechook, who, being behind
me, persisted all the way, as a delicate attention, in arranging my streaming
hatband, and smoothing my cloak. My thoughts were further distracted by the
excessive pride of Mr. and Mrs. Hubble, who were surpassingly conceited and
vainglorious in being members of so distinguished a procession.
    And now the range of marshes lay clear before us, with the sails of the
ships on the river growing out of it; and we went into the churchyard, close to
the graves of my unknown parents, Philip Pirrip, late of this parish, and Also
Georgiana, Wife of the Above. And there, my sister was laid quietly in the earth
while the larks sang high above it, and the light wind strewed it with beautiful
shadows of clouds and trees.
    Of the conduct of the worldly-minded Pumblechook while this was doing, I
desire to say no more than it was all addressed to me; and that even when those
noble passages were read which reminded humanity how it brought nothing into the
world and can take nothing out, and how it fleeth like a shadow and never
continueth