“But it is a civil funeral, is it not?”
The other gentleman, who evidently wished to tell me all about it, then
said: “Yes and no. The clergy have refused to allow us the use of the
church.”
On hearing this I uttered a prolonged “A-h!” of astonishment. I could
not understand it at all, but my obliging neighbor continued:
“It is rather a long story. This young woman committed suicide, and that
is the reason why she cannot be buried with any religious ceremony. The
gentleman who is walking first, and who is crying, is her husband.”