ASimlafuneralwiththeclergymanriding，themournersriding，andthecoffincreakingasitswingsbetweenthebearer~，isoneofthemostdepressingthingsonthisearth，particularlywhentheprocessionpassesunderthewet，dankdipbeneaththeRockcliffeHotel，wherethesunisshutoutandallthebillstreamsarewailingandweepingtogetherastheygodownthevalleysOccasionallyfolktendthegraves，butweinIndiashiftandaretransferredsooftenthat，attheendofthesecondyear，theDeadhavenofriends-onlyacquaintanceswhoarefartoobusyamusingthemsel“esupthehilltoattendtooldpartnersTheideaofusingaCemeteryasarendezvousisdistinctlyafeminineoneAmanwouldhavesaidsimply“LetpeopletalkWe’llgodowntheMall。”Awomanismadedifferently，especiallyifshebesuchawomanastheMan’sWifeSheandtheTertiumQuidenjoyedeachother’ssocietyamongthegravesofmenandwomenwhomtheyhadknownanddancedwithaforetime。
Theyusedtotakeabighorse-blanketandsitonthegrassalittletotheleftofthelowerend，wherethereisadipinthegroundandwheretheoccupiedgravesstopshortandtheready-madeonesarenotreadyEachwell-regulatedIndiaCemeterykeepshalfadozengravespermanentlyopenforcontingenciesandincidentalwearandtearIntheHillsthesearemoreusuallybaby’s，’ize，becausechildrenwhocomeupweakenedandsickfromthePlainsoftensuccumbtotheeffectsoftheRainsintheHillsorgetpneumoniafromtheirayahstakingthemthroughdamppine-woodsafterthesunhassetInCantonments，ofcourse，theman’ssizeismoreinrequest；thesearrangementsvaryingwiththeclimateandpopulation。
OnedaywhentheMan’sWifeandtheTertiumQuidhadjustarrivedintheCemetery，theysawsomecooliesbreakinggroundTheyhadmarkedoutafull-sizegrave，andtheTertiumQuidaskedthemwhetheranySahibwassickTheysaidthattheydidnotknow；butitwasanorderthattheyshoulddigaSahib’sgrave。
“Workaway。”saidtheTertiumQuid，“andlet’sseehowit’sdone。”
Thecooliesworkedaway，andtheMan’sWifeandtheTertiumQuidwatchedandtalkedforacoupleofhourswhilethegravewasbeingdeepenedThenacoolie，takingtheearthinblanketsasitwasthrownup，jumpedoverthegrave。