isters in Black

aron Von Lodge was the head of a small country known as Lilliland near Switzerland. The time was the early 1900s.

The Baron kept hearing comments from his fiancée Lady Angela of Alpine Castle about the middle-aged sisters living by themselves in Lilliland. They were quiet and dignified and lived a rather uneventful life. Their parents passed away many years ago and the sisters inherited the lovely large house from them. The comments from Lady Angela were that every time she saw the sisters in public they were completely dressed in black. They were not members of any religious group that required a certain type of clothes.

The Baron told Lady Angela that as long as they were behaving like the average Lilliland citizen they could dress in all black, or all green, or all brown if they wished.

Later, with the constant observations by Lady Angela, the Baron asked his chief advisor, Professor Hamblin, to very quietly visit the two sisters in black. At first the Professor refused saying there was no special reason to justify the visit. Later he arranged a visit for tea one afternoon at the sisters' home.

The ladies spoke freely with Professor Hamblin about their lives in Lilliland. Neither sister had ever married nor were they in mourning; they just liked to dress alike in the same color. After the visit the Professor reported back to the Baron and Lady Angela about his visit. He said that the sisters admitted they dressed in black all the time, and in the house he found nothing unusual or abnormal except for a cat and a dog. The cat and dog were both completely black and both their names were "Blackie." When the sisters called for the cat or dog they both came because they both had the same name. The rooms and furniture were decorated in a variety of colors and everything looked typical of a Lilliland home. The Professor concluded his observations by saying that the sisters were not in need nor wanted for anything. Their parents had been very wealthy and the ladies would always live in comfort.

The Baron and Lady Angela thanked the Professor for his inquiry and observations. The Baron said that this was one time when they should mind their own business. Lady Angela said this particular time her personal curiosity got the better of her. They both laughed with relief.