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 to Christine 's wedding , now dwelling dolefully on the mortgage . Patty , who was washing the dishes , knew just what her thoughts were by the light and shadow on her expressive face . `` Why ! -- what ? '' exclaimed Carry suddenly . Patty wheeled about to see Carry staring at the silk dress like one bewitched . Between the silk and the lining which she had just ripped apart was a twenty-dollar bill , and beside it a sheet of letter paper covered with writing in a cramped angular hand , both secured very carefully to the silk . `` Carry Lea ! '' gasped Patty . With trembling fingers Carry snipped away the stitches that held the letter , and read it aloud . `` My dear Caroline , '' it ran , `` I do not know when you will find this letter and this money , but when you do it belongs to you . I have a hundred dollars which I always meant to give you because you were named for me . But Edward and his wife do not know I have it , and I do n't want them to find out .
They would not let me give it to you if they knew , so I have thought of this way of getting it XXXXX you .
about after because behind by for over to while with