"
"Oh, Miss Nolla, Ah'm much obleeged t' you-all. Ah don' mind trouble,
onny yoh see Ah expec' comp'ny to-night."
It took Sary but an instant to open the package and when she beheld a
ruffled organdy dress discarded by Barbara the previous season and
accidentally packed in the trunk with other clothes, she rolled her
eyes heavenward.
"Miss Nolla! Is this fine gown'd fer me?"
Eleanor stifled a laugh but Sary made as if she would clasp the girl in
her powerful arms, so discretion was needed. Eleanor backed behind the
kitchen chair.
"Miss Nolla, Ah wonder ef a widder of seven months' standin' mought
wear little yaller rose-buds on a dress, like-ez-how this is?"
"Certainly, Sary," came from Mrs. Brewster, who now joined the two.
"It's not the color or quantity of clothes as much as the sincerity of
one's mourning."
Quite unintentionally, Mrs. Brewster touched upon a tender spot. In
fact, so tender was it, that Sary blamed Bill for having died so
recently instead of two years back. She might have now been ending her
second year of mourning!
Eleanor being trained to the wiles of polite society, saw and
understood Sary's flash of resentment, so she turned to Mrs. Brewster
with the remark:
"I've heard said, that the highest regard a widow can pay her departed,
is, to take a second husband. It speaks well for her happiness with the
first one, you see."
Mrs. Brewster stared at Eleanor but Sary smirked and quickly replied:
"You-all is right, Miss Nolla! A widder what hez ben _so_ happy that
she gits lonesome whiles thinkin' of her departed, hez a right t' find
a second husban'.
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