the two of them sitting on hay bales in the midst of the cows who surrounded them in stanchions on three sides , this the third party , gathered as if for courtor churchthe blowing and chewing of the guernseys and jerseys not unlike the coughing of the gathered congregation on a winter morning , many holding back the sound during prayer or times of silence to release them in loud hoarse hacking noises during the organs introduction to the first hymn .