She watched the sky darken, threatening rain. 'There's no light at all these days,' she said. 'It's been the darkest winter. I hate the rain or the cold, but I don't mind it at all when there's no light.'

Father Greenwood sighed and glanced at the window. 'Most people hate the winter,' he said.

She could think of nothing more to say and hoped that he might go now. Instead, he reached down and pulled up one of his grey socks, then waited for a moment before he inspected the other and then pulled that up too. 'Have you seen Frank lately?' he asked.

LRB 6 May 2004 | PDF Download