It will be just the thing , the greens and yellow will be toned down to a nice shimmer under the black lace . And I 'll make cuffs of black velvet with double puffs above -- and just cut out a wee bit at the throat with a frill of lace and a band of black velvet ribbon around my neck . Patty Lea , it 's an inspiration . '' Carry was out of bed by daylight the next morning and , while Patty still slumbered , she mounted to the garret , and took Aunt Caroline 's silk dress from the chest where it had lain forgotten for three years . Carry held it up at arm 's length , and looked at it with amusement . `` It is certainly ugly , but with the lace over it it will look very different . There 's enough of it , anyway , and that skirt is stiff enough to stand alone . Poor Aunt Caroline , I 'm afraid I was n't particularly grateful for her gift at the time , but I really am now . '' Aunt Caroline , who had given the dress to Carry three years before , was , an old lady of eighty , the aunt of Carry 's father . She had once possessed a snug farm but in an evil hour she had been persuaded to deed it to her nephew , Edward Curry , whom she had brought up . Poor Aunt Caroline had lived to regret this step , for everyone in Enderby knew that Edward Curry and his wife had repaid her with ingratitude and greed . Carry , who was named for her , was her favourite grandniece and often went to see her , though such visits were coldly received by the Currys , who always took especial care never to leave Aunt Caroline alone with any of her relatives . On one occasion , when Carry was there , Aunt Caroline had brought out this silk dress . `` I 'm going to give this to you , Carry , '' she said timidly . `` It 's a good silk , and not so very old . Mr. Greenley gave it to me for a birthday present fifteen years ago . Maybe you can make it over for yourself . '' Mrs. Edward , who was on duty at the time , sniffed disagreeably , but she said nothing . The dress was of no value in her eyes , for the pattern was so ugly and old-fashioned that none of her smart daughters would have worn it . Had it been otherwise , Aunt Caroline would probably not have been allowed to give it away .
XXXXX had thanked Aunt Caroline sincerely .
Carry am cut gave mounted named possessed slumbered stand worn