Page:Traits and Trials.pdf/46

40 remembered Mrs. Whyte's "poor dears," and still more anxiously Eda's weeping. Every morning they stole into the drawing-room where it hung and watched to see if their mamma's picture was still unaltered. Finding it the same, day after day, seemed to reconcile them more than all Eda could urge to the duty which they owed to their father, and the indulgence which they were to expect from his bride. At length the important day came on which Mr. and Mrs. Dalton were expected to arrive. It was with a heavy heart that Eda prepared to dress the children. It was the first time that they had laid aside their mourning since their mother's death. The affectionate and faithful creature felt almost as much in putting on the white frocks as she had done when they first wore their black ones. She was almost angry at the pleasure which their new dresses gave the children, who admiringly surveyed their long new white sashes and shoes. Her anger had however not to last long, for Julia suddenly put her new dress aside, and said,