"Nannie," Papa whispered as he started out, "soon's you get time, ask what clothes Ophelia wants us to use."
As soon as Mama went over to Miss Ophelia's chair and began talking to her, she started crying again.
"Them things in the big trunk is all. They're all he's got, Miss Nannie."
I didn't know what trunk or what things she was talking about till a few minutes later when I followed Mama and Miss Lida Belle into the far side room. There we found two trunks over against the back wall, one flat on top, the other humpbacked—both dusty. Mama lifted the lid of the humpbacked one.
"It smells terrible, Mama! Just like Grandma Ming's big old trunk! That one with all them little white balls in it."
"'Course, hon. All trunks have to have camphor balls in them, else the moths will get in."
There wasn't a thing in the tray of the trunk except a handful of dry, shriveled-up roses. Down in the bottom, though, we saw a long white dress with lots of lace on it and a man's dark Sunday suit.
Miss Lida Belle caught her breath. "Nannie! It's their wedding clothes! Is there a white shirt?"
"I'm afraid not."
"This other trunk is slam empty, Nannie."