Miss Debary, Susan & Sally all in black, but without any Statues, made their appearance, & I was as civil to them as their bad breath would allow me. They told me nothing new of Martha. (Letter 27)

I am guessing that the Debary sisters are in mourning. I remember the black ribbons Elizabeth is wearing for Mr. Elliot’s wife in Persuasion, Chapter 1. I am not sure of the particulars but, I believe, the black ribbons denote a lesser degree of mourning than full. My question is this; does the lack of “Statues” on the Debary sisters denote the same, a less formal degree of mourning?