Missa Not Quite Solitaria

After venturing to Hindhead for the first Sunday of my Autumn break, I played safe this week and went to the 8am mass at the Cathedral. Last time I attended, way, way back in the far-off days of 2019, there were about ten of us present: this time, there were four, including the priest (who I didn't know) and one of the virgers. The other member of the congregation was a woman who had a coughing fit partway through and left. When the sermon began I looked round to find that the virger had slipped out too so I was being preached at on my own. The celebrant did his best to cast his eyes around the empty Lady Chapel, perhaps engaging with the innumerable host of angels who may, possibly, have been present, speaking about Isaiah and the nature of service, exposing ourselves to the chance of suffering. We were back up to a full four a few minutes later. I wonder what has happened at Swanvale Halt while I've been gadding about!