"Mrs. Laval gave me some new dresses yesterday; these, you see, Mr.
Richmond; the frock is dark brown and the coat is grey. Ought they to
be black?"

"Why should they be black?"

"I don't know, sir. People do wear black things when they have lost
friends."

"What for do they so?"

"_I_ don't know, Mr. Richmond; but people say it shews respect--and
that I do not shew"--

"Let us look at it quietly," said her friend. "How does it shew respect
to a lost friend, to put on a peculiar dress?"

"I don't know, sir; because it's the custom, I suppose. But I am not in
black. Ought I to be?"

"Wait; we will come to it. Black dresses are supposed to be a sign of
grief, are they not?"

"I don't know, Mr. Richmond; they _said_, of respect, and to put one in
mind."

"The grief that wants putting in mind, is not a grief that pays much
real respect, I should think. Do not you think so? that's one thing."

Matilda looked at him, with eyes intent and pitifully full of tears,
just ready to run over, but eagerly watching his lips.

"Then as to respect, black dresses must shew respect, if any way, by
saying to the world that we remember and are sorry. Now the fact is,
Matilda, they do not say that at all. They are worn quite as much by
people who do not remember, and who are not sorry. They tell nothing
about the truth, except that some of those who wear them like to be in
the fashion and some are afraid of what the world will say.

"But there is another question. When our friends have left us and are
happy with the Lord Jesus, as all his children are, is it a mark of
respect to their memory, that we should cover our faces with crape, and
wear gloomy drapery, and shut up our shutters to keep the sunlight out
of our rooms? Have we any right to stop the sunlight anywhere? Wouldn't
it be better honour to our Christian friends who have gone, to be glad
for them, and speak as if we were; and let it be seen that all the
sorrow we have is on our own account, and we do not mean to indulge
that selfishly? We do not sorrow as those that have no hope; for we
believe that them which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. There
will be a glorious meeting again, by and by, when Jesus comes; then we
and our dear ones who have loved him will be together again, and all of
us with the Lord."

"Then people ought _not_ to wear black for mourning?" said Matilda with
a brightened but undecided face.

"I think myself it is a very unchristian