Chapter 6
The Church has always held that life is for the living. On
Saturday, while half the village of Sainte-Agnes was mourning for
Amedee and preparing the funeral black for his burial on Monday,
the other half was busy with white dresses and white veils for the
great confirmation service to-morrow, when the bishop was to
confirm a class of one hundred boys and girls. Father Duchesne
divided his time between the living and the dead. All day Saturday
the church was a scene of bustling activity, a little hushed by the
thought of Amedee. The choir were busy rehearsing a mass of
Rossini, which they had studied and practised for this occasion.
The women were trimming the altar, the boys and girls were bringing
flowers.
On Sunday morning the bishop was to drive overland to
Sain
