Sentence:  ...a delighted shout from the children swung him toward the door again. His sister, Mrs. Gerard, stood there in carriage gown and <WSD>sables</WSD>, radiant with surprise. &para; "Phil!  "You!"  Exactly like you, Philip, to come strolling in from the antipodes&mdash;dear fellow!" recovering from the fraternal embrace and holding both lapels of his coat in her gloved hands. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Black garments, especially worn in mourning.