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 . Carry had thanked Aunt Caroline sincerely . If she did not care much for the silk , she at least prized the kindly motive behind the gift .
Perhaps she and XXXXX laughed a little over it as they packed it away in the garret .
Caroline Curry Edward Greenley Patty garret grandniece hour morning years