We were all asked to hum

"Then a lady came to teach step dancing on Thursdays, tried to initiate us into the mystery of jigs and reels. There being no musical accompaniment, we were all asked to hum ... The humming varied. Some girls spoke, 'One two three four five six seven, all good children go to heaven, when they die their sins are forgiven, one two three four five six seven' ... although embarrassed to sit aside and not be able to partake, and in my heart of hearts I was eternally grateful, believing as a I did that dancing disturbed the body and might in an extremity drive all the fluids and blood and entrails out of one ..."

-Edna O'Brien, Mother Ireland