backward。Haveyoumuchtodo？““Yes，Ionlygottheorderyesterdayatnoon；andthere’sthreegirlsbesidethemother；andwhatwithtryingonandmatchingthestufffortherewasnotenoughinthepiecetheychosefirst，I’maboveabitbehindhand。
I’vetheskirtsalltomake。Ikeptthatworktillcandlelight；andthesleeves，tosaynothingoflittlebitstothebodies；forthemissisisveryparticular，andIcouldscarcekeepfromsmilingwhiletheywerecryingso，reallytakingonsadlyI’msure，tohearfirstoneandthent’otherclearuptonoticethesitofhergown。Theyweren’ttobemisfits，Ipromiseyou，thoughtheywereinsuchtrouble。““Well，Margaret，you’rerightwelcome，asyouknow，andI’llsitdownandhelpyouwithpleasure，thoughIwastiredenoughofsewingto-nightatMissSimmonds’。“BythistimeMaryhadbrokenuptherakingcoal，andlightedhercandle；
andMargaretsettledherselftoherworkononesideofthetable，whileherfriendhurriedoverherteaattheother。Thethingswerethenliftedenmassetothedresser；anddustinghersideofthetablewiththeapronshealwaysworeathome，Marytookupsomebreadthsandbegantorunthemtogether。“Who’sitallfor，forifyoutoldmeI’veforgotten？““Why，forMrsOgdenaskeepsthegreengrocer’sshopinOxfordRoad。Herhusbanddrankhimselftodeath，andthoughshecriedoverhimandhiswaysallthetimehewasalive，she’sfrettedsadlyforhimnowhe’sdead。““Hashelefthermuchtogoupon？“askedMary，examiningthetextureofthedress。“Thisisbeautifullyfinesoftbombazine。““No，I’mmuchafeardthere’sbutlittle，andthere’sseveralyoungchildren，besidesthethreeMissOgdens。““Ishouldhavethoughtgirlslikethemwouldha’madetheirowngowns，“
observedMary。“SoIdaresaytheydo，manyaone，butnowtheyseemallsobusygettingreadyforthefuneral；forit’stobequiteagrandaffair，well-nightwentypeopletobreakfast，asoneofthelittleonestoldme；thelittlethingseemedtolikethefuss，andIdobelieveitcomfortedpoorMrsOgdentomakeallthepieceo’work。SuchasmellofhamboilingandfowlsroastingwhileIwaitedinthekitchen；itseemedmorelikeaweddingnorafuneral。
Theysaidshe’dspendamattero’sixtypoundonth’burial。““Ithoughtyousaidshewasbutbadlyoff，“saidMary。“Aye，Iknowshe’saskedforcreditatseveralplaces，sayingherhusbandlaidhandsoneveryfarthinghecouldgetfordrink。Butth’undertakersurgeheron，yousee，andtellherthisthing’susual，andthatthing’sonlyacommonmarkofrespect，andthateverybodyhast’otherthing，tillthepoorwomanhasnowillo’herown。Idaresay，too，herheartstrikesheritalwaysdoeswhenaperson’sgoneformanyawordandmanyaslightingdeedtohimwho’sstiffandcoldandshethinkstomakeupmatters，asitwere，byagrandfuneral，thoughsheandallherchildren，too，mayhavetopinchmanyayeartopaytheexpenses，ifevertheypaythematall。““Thismourning，too，willcostaprettypenny，“saidMary。“Ioftenwonderwhyfolkswearmourning；it’snotprettyorbecoming；anditcostsadealofmoneyjustwhenpeoplecanspareitleast；andifwhattheBibletellsusbetrue，weoughtnottobesorrywhenafriend，who’sbeengood，goestohisrest；andasforabadman，one’sgladenoughtogetshutonhim。