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 Patty laughed a little over it as they packed it away in the garret . It was so very ugly , but Carry thought it was sweet of Aunt Caroline to have given her something . Poor old Aunt Caroline had died soon after , and Carry had not thought about the silk dress again . She had too many other things to think of , this poor worried Carry . After breakfast Carry began to rip the skirt breadths apart .
Snip , snip , went her scissors , while her thoughts roamed far afield -- now looking forward with renewed pleasure XXXXX Christine 's wedding , now dwelling dolefully on the mortgage .
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