Now I am desolate indeed. I have no knowledge, I have no husband, I have no more to say.”
“If I had anything better you should have it,” said she politely to the Thin Woman of Inis Magrath.
“Thank you,” said the Thin Woman, “it was very nice. Shall I begin now? My husband is meditating and we may be able to annoy him.”
“Don’t trouble yourself,” replied the other, “I am past enjoyment and am, moreover, a respectable woman.”
“That is no more than the truth, indeed.”
“I have always done the right thing at the right time.”
“I’d be the last body in the world to deny that,” was the warm response.
“Very well, then,” said the Grey Woman, and she commenced to take off her boots. She stood in the centre of the room and balanced herself on her toe.
“You are a decent, respectable lady,” said the Thin Woman of Inis Magrath, and then the Grey Woman began to gyrate rapidly and more rapidly until she was a very fervour of motion, and in three-quarters of an hour (for she was very tough) she began to slacken, grew visible, wobbled, and fell beside her dead husband, and on her face was a beatitude almost surpassing his.
The Thin Woman of Inis Magrath smacked the children and put them to bed, next she buried the two bodies under the hearthstone, and then, with some trouble, detached her husband from his meditations. When he became capable of ordinary occurrences she detailed all that had happened, and said that he alone was to blame for the sad bereavement. He replied: