“And Leida must keep her old hat because she has been so untidy; but she will have to have a new ribbon on it.”
Van Arlen nodded assent.
They must have been great men who first preached impartiality, and abolished the right of primogeniture. Here, in this individual instance, was a saving of three new hats,—what economy would be effected by the application of the system to a whole State!
“And you yourself, mamma?”
“I have been thinking of keeping on the mourning for another year. My black dresses are all quite good still.”
“And we were so fond of poor Cornelia! When the mourning is worn out the dead are forgotten, people say. We must show that it is not the case with us.”
“Or that we have been careful of our clothes,” Van Arlen might have added; but though this inference did not enter his head, another did.
“So we shall not go out this year?”
“I’m sorry, for the girls’ sakes; but it really is a duty. But, all the same, we must not keep them quite shut up either.”
“No, of course not.”