mercy 's keeper , who was never seen except on important occasions such as this , had emerged from his quarters along the balcony , bringing along what looked to be family friends : two young girls who were hugging each other about their waists and emitting soft wails , an older woman who kept dabbing at her eyes and declaring to all and sundry that it was a pity such things had to occur , and a young man who was doing the best of the four to remain still and silent .