A Plains Gothic: The Tree, Part Five
Sep 21, 2026 · 24 min · 10 segments
Part five of The Tree, in which the town founders question Nora and Finn Clancy about Constance, her pregnancy, and her miscarriage.
Sep 21, 2026 · 24 min · 10 segments
Part five of The Tree, in which the town founders question Nora and Finn Clancy about Constance, her pregnancy, and her miscarriage.
Meanwhile, one of the ladies had applied a pungent perfume that now overwhelmed the nostrils of those left in attendance.
Paul Dempsey, anticipating that the questioning might take time, chose to light the chandelier his family had purchased for the knave.
Composed of twelve kerosene lamps arranged around a circular frame, the chandelier had been built in St. Joseph, with an ornate, reflective sconce made specially, at great expense.
Dempsey unwound the rope from a wall-mounted cleat, and with the help of Reverend Claridge, lowered the chandelier with a rope.
After the two hoisted the chandelier aloft, it shone down upon the nave like a flickering sun, which dispelled the afternoon shadows of the sanctuary and brought light to the proceedings.
Roughly twenty minutes passed before the party returned with the Clancy's, during which time the Reverend Claridge and Father Martin engaged in an animated, though muffled, conversation near a marble plaque enumerating the Ten Commandments.
Paul Dempsey discussed cattle with David Johnstone, Beatrice Quaglin and Laura busied themselves with a sampler, and Isabella Webster attempted to prevent her children from climbing on the pews.
When Nora and Finn entered in the company of four of the younger men, they demonstrated interest in, but not surprise, at those they found in attendance.
The men walked close to Finn, and Samuel Dugan started at various moments as though ready to pounce at the hint of a sudden movement.
The Reverend Claridge ended his conversation with Father Martin abruptly and hurried to the pulpit.
The Clancy's were placed at the front of the nave, where the Reverend could address them in front of the dais.
Meanwhile, one of the ladies had applied a pungent perfume that now overwhelmed the nostrils of those left in attendance.
Paul Dempsey, anticipating that the questioning might take time, chose to light the chandelier his family had purchased for the knave.
Composed of twelve kerosene lamps arranged around a circular frame, the chandelier had been built in St. Joseph, with an ornate, reflective sconce made specially, at great expense.
Dempsey unwound the rope from a wall-mounted cleat, and with the help of Reverend Claridge, lowered the chandelier with a rope.
After the two hoisted the chandelier aloft, it shone down upon the nave like a flickering sun, which dispelled the afternoon shadows of the sanctuary and brought light to the proceedings.
Roughly twenty minutes passed before the party returned with the Clancy's, during which time the Reverend Claridge and Father Martin engaged in an animated, though muffled, conversation near a marble plaque enumerating the Ten Commandments.
Paul Dempsey discussed cattle with David Johnstone, Beatrice Quaglin and Laura busied themselves with a sampler, and Isabella Webster attempted to prevent her children from climbing on the pews.
When Nora and Finn entered in the company of four of the younger men, they demonstrated interest in, but not surprise, at those they found in attendance.
The men walked close to Finn, and Samuel Dugan started at various moments as though ready to pounce at the hint of a sudden movement.
The Reverend Claridge ended his conversation with Father Martin abruptly and hurried to the pulpit.
The Clancy's were placed at the front of the nave, where the Reverend could address them in front of the dais.
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