On this public holiday, as on all other occasions, for seven years past, Hester was clad in a garment of coarse gray cloth.

在这个公共假期，就像过去七年的所有其他场合一样，海丝特穿着一件粗灰色布料的衣服。

A correspondence had sprung up between them and, learning that Melanie had a husband at the front, the mother had sent her the length of gray cloth and brass buttons which she had bought for her dead son.

这样，她们之间就建立了通讯联系，当对方听说媚兰的丈夫在前线时，便把自己买给儿子的那段灰细布和一副铜钮扣寄来了。