Carry was twenty-two -- and feeling forty , her last pretty dress had been when she was a girl of twelve , before her father had died . To be sure , there was the silk organdie Aunt Kathleen had sent her , but that was fit only for parties , and Carry never went to any parties . `` Did you get any mail , Patty ? '' she asked unexpectantly . There was never much mail for the Lea girls . `` Yes 'm , '' said Patty briskly . `` Here 's the Weekly Advocate , and a patent medicine almanac with all your dreams expounded , and a letter for Miss Carry M. Lea . It 's postmarked Enfield , and has a suspiciously matrimonial look . I 'm sure it 's an invitation to Chris Fairley 's wedding . Hurry up and see , Caddy . '' Carry , with a little flush of excitement on her face , opened her letter . Sure enough , it contained an invitation `` to be present at the marriage of Christine Fairley . '' `` How jolly ! '' exclaimed Patty . `` Of course you 'll go , Caddy . You 'll have a chance to wear that lovely organdie of yours at last . '' `` It was sweet of Chris to invite me , '' said Carry . `` I really did n't expect it . '' `` Well , I did . Was n't she your most intimate friend when she lived in Enderby ? ''
`` Oh , yes , but it is four years since she left , and some people might forget XXXXX four years .
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