Jenny is a seamstress who lives with her sister, Miss Emma, and her sick brother, Eben. The sisters have just received a call from Mrs. Tidball, one of their neighbors, who asks them if they could make a shroud for her daughter Sadie Cudlip who has recently died. Miss Emma wants to decline the job, because they do not know how to make a shroud, but Jenny takes the phone and accepts. They have to make the shroud by the evening, and Mrs. Tidball is sending over silk for it. Jenny looks in their book of patterns, but cannot find a pattern for a shroud.
From the couch in the corner, someone moans. It is the sisters' brother, Eben. He conveys to Jenny in broken words that he wants the box that has candy in it. Jenny feeds him chocolates. The silk is delivered to the house, and Jenny marvels at the fine quality of it. Miss Emma is nervous for Jenny to cut into it. Jenny cuts the silk successfully, and she and Miss Emma begin sewing. Jenny laments that the silk is wasted as a shroud. She also reveals that Sadie Cudlip once shamed her for having a less fancy dress when they were children. 
Jenny thinks that they should keep the extra silk, but Miss Emma chastises her. Jenny wishes that she were rich, and she talks about how much easier her life would be. When the shroud is ready, Jenny tries it on, and remarks that it is like a wedding dress. She puts the extra silk on her head like a veil and pretends to be a bride. She wants to show Eben, so Miss Emma turns his head. When Eben sees Jenny, he starts to have an episode, so they pour ammonia down his throat. Jenny realizes that he does not like the veil, so she takes it off and reassures him that she will never get married and will always be here with him. Eben smiles, and Jenny cuts the veil.