CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE INVITATION.
When Letty received Mrs.Redmain's card, inviting her with her husband to an evening party, it raised in her a bewildered flutter--of pleasure, of fear, of pride, of shyness, of dismay: how dared she show her face in such a grand assembly?
She would not know a bit how to behave herself! But it was impossible, for she had no dress fit to go anywhere! What would Tom say if she looked a dowdy?
He would be ashamed of her, and she dared not think what might come of it! But close upon the postman came Mary, and a long talk followed.

Letty was full of trembling delight, but Mary was not a little anxious with herself how Tom would take it.
The first matter, however, was Letty's dress.

She had no money, and seemed afraid to ask for any.

The distance between her and her husband had been widening.
Their council of ways and means lasted a good while, including many digressions.

At last, though unwillingly, Letty accepted Mary's proposal that a certain dress, her best indeed, though she did not say so, which she had scarcely worn, and was not likely to miss, should be made to fit Letty.