hamber surrounded by black
robes and draperies piled upon the bed, and chairs, and floor, their
sombreness darkening the room like a cloud; but she stood in their midst
in a trailing garment of pure white, and in her bosom was a bright red
rose tied with a knot of scarlet ribband, whose ends fell floating. Her
woman was upon her knees before a coffer in which she was laying the
weeds as she folded them.

Mistress Anne paused within the doorway, her eyes dazzled by the tall
radiant shape and blot of scarlet colour as if by the shining of the sun.
She knew in that moment that all was changed, and that the world of
darkness they had been living in for the past months was swept from
existence. When her sister had worn her mourning weeds she had seemed
somehow almost pale; but now she stood in the sunlight with the rich
scarlet on her cheek and lip, and the stars in her great eyes.

"Come in, sister Anne," she said. "I lay aside my weeds, and my woman is
folding them away for me. Dost know of any poor creature newly left a
widow whom some of them would be a help to? 'Tis a pity that so much
sombreness should lie in chests when there are perhaps poor souls to whom
it would be a godsend."

Before the day was over, there was not a shred of black stuff left in
sight; such as had not been sent out of the house to be distributed,
being packed away in coffers in the garrets under the leads.

"You will wear it no more, sister?" Anne asked once. "You will wear gay
colours--as if it had never been?"

"It _is_ as if it had never been," Clorinda answered. "Ere now her lord
is happy with her, and he is so happy that I am forgot. I had a fancy
that--perhaps at first--well, if he had looked down on earth--
remembering--he would have seen I was faithful in my honouring of him.
But now, I am sure--"

She stopped with a half laugh. "'Twas but a fancy," she said. "Perchance
he has known naught since that night he fell at my feet--and even so,
poor gentleman, he hath a happy fate. Yes, I will wear gay colours,"
flinging up her arms as if she dropped fetters, and stretched her
beauteous limbs for ease--"gay colours--and roses and rich jewels--and
all things--_all_ that will make me beautiful!"

The next day there came a chest from London, packed close with splendid
raiment; when she drove out again in her chariot her servants'
sad-coloured liveries had been laid by, and she was attired in rich hues,
amidst which she glowed lik