`` You were invited , were n't you ? '' Aunt Beatrice nodded . The hole she was darning in the knee of Willie Hayden 's stocking must be done very carefully . Mrs. George Hayden was particular about such matters . Perhaps this was why Aunt Beatrice did not speak . `` Why did n't you go ? '' asked Margaret absently , wondering why there had been no letter for her that morning -- and this was the third day too ! Could Gilbert be ill ? Or was he flirting with some other girl and forgetting her ? Margaret swallowed a big lump in her throat , and resolved that she would go home next week -- no , she would n't , either -- if he was as hateful and fickle as that -- what was Aunt Beatrice saying ? `` Well , I 'm -- I 'm not used to going to parties now , my dear . And the truth is I have no dress fit to wear . At least Bella said so , because the party was to be a very fashionable affair . She said my old grey silk would n't do at all . Of course she knows . She had to have a new dress for it , and , we could n't both have that . George could n't afford it these hard times . And , as Bella said , it would be very foolish of me to get an expensive dress that would be no use to me afterward . But it does n't matter . And , of course , somebody had to stay with the children . ''
`` Of XXXXX , '' assented Margaret dreamily .
Aunt affair children course lump party silk throat times truth