Their contents were usually to the same effect: would I and mine come to the writer's country-place in England on such and such a date, by such and such a train, and stay twelve days and depart by such and such a train at the end of the specified time?
A carriage would meet us at the station.
These invitations were always for a long time ahead; if we were in Europe, three months ahead; if we were in America, six to twelve months ahead.

They always named the exact date and train for the beginning and also for the end of the visit.
This first note invited us for a date three months in the future.

It asked us to arrive by the 4.10 p.m.train from London, August 6th.

The carriage would be waiting.

The carriage would take us away seven days later-train specified.