~ the opening to Shirley Jackson's "The Sundial"After the funeral they came back to the house, now indisputably Mrs. Halloran's. They stood uneasily, without any certainty, in the ... more~ the opening to Shirley Jackson's "The Sundial"After the funeral they came back to the house, now indisputably Mrs. Halloran's. They stood uneasily, without any certainty, in the large lovely entrance hall, and watched Mrs. Halloran go into the right wing of the house to let Mr. Halloran know that Lionel's last rites had gone off without melodrama. Young Mrs. Halloran, looking after her mother-in-law, said without hope, "Maybe she will drop dead on the doorstep. Fancy dear, would you like to see Granny drop dead on the doorstep?" "Yes, mother." less
