four
o'clock
It was in vain . Tears began to dim his sight , and for a moment the man overcame the sexton . The struggle was but brief ; in another moment he was again the sexton . Returning to the cottage , he scarcely reached the threshold before he cried out , with all the firmness of his cruelly professional tones : ` Parson or no parson , aat o ' this dur -LRB- door -RRB- hoo goes at four o'clock . ' As the clock struck the fateful hour the old woman was carried to her grave ; and as they lowered her , Joseph , with uncovered head , let fall the clods from his own hand , repeating , in a hoarse yet tremulous voice , the words : ` Earth to earth , ashes to ashes , dust to dust . ' In another moment the old sexton reeled , and fell into the arms of the men who stood near him . It was but a passing weakness , for he soon pulled himself together , and accompanied the mourners to the funeral tea , which was served in a neighbouring house .