Zoe skipped away with the last word, ran up to her room, and began
turning over the contents of bureau drawers and taking garments from
wardrobes and closets, with the view of selecting such as she might deem
it desirable to carry with her on the contemplated trip.

She was humming softly a snatch of lively song, feeling very gay and
light-hearted, when, coming across a gray travelling-dress a little
worse for the wear, her song suddenly ceased, while tears gathered in
her eyes, then began to fall drop by drop as she stood gazing down, upon
this relic of former days.

"Just one year ago," she murmured. "Papa, papa! I never thought I could
live a whole year without you; and be happy, too! Ah, that seems
ungrateful, when you were so, so good to me! But no; I am sure you would
rather have me happy; and it would be ungrateful to my dear husband if I
were not."

She put the dress aside, wiped away her tears, and took down another.
It was a dark woollen dress. She had travelled home in it the previous
fall, and had worn it once since on a very memorable occasion; her cheek
crimsoned at the recollection as she glanced from it to her husband, who
entered the room at that instant; then her eyes fell.

"What is it, love?" he asked, coming quickly toward her.

"Nothing, only--you remember the last time you saw me in this dress? Oh,
Ned, what a fool I was! and how good you were to me!"

He had her in his arms by this time, and she was hiding her blushing