She had worn a bright ribbon on it in the winter season and a delicate-hued one in summer-time, but it was always the same bonnet.
Elmira had not had a new summer ribbon for three years, and now, in addition, she had purchased some rosebuds, and arranged them in little clusters in a frilling of lace inside the brim.

Her pretty face looked out of this little millinery halo with an indescribably mild and innocent radiance.

One caught one's self looking past her fixed shining eyes for the brightness which they saw and reflected.
"Well," said her mother, "I guess you look as well as some other folks, if you didn't lay out quite so much money.

I guess folks will have to give in you do." Ann Edwards's little nervous face wore rather an expression of antagonistic triumph than a smile of motherly approval; so hostile had been all her conditions of life that she never laid down her weapons, and went with spear in rest, as it were, even into her few by-paths of delight.
She pulled Elmira's skirts here and there to be sure they hung evenly; she bade her stand close, and picked out the ribbon bow under her chin.

"Now you'd better run along," said she, "or the bell will stop tollin'." She watched the girl, in her own old bridal array, step down the front path, with more happiness than she had known since her husband's disappearance.