The first thing I took out was a small square case covered with dark purple velvet . The tiny clasp was almost rusted away and yielded easily . I gave a little cry of admiration . Aunt Winnifred bent over my shoulder . `` That is Eliza 's portrait at the age of twenty , and that is Willis Starr 's . Was she not lovely , Amy ? '' Lovely indeed was the face looking out at me from its border of tarnished gilt . It was the face of a young girl , in shape a perfect oval , with delicate features and large dark-blue eyes . Her hair , caught high on the crown and falling on her neck in the long curls of a bygone fashion , was a warm auburn , and the curves of her bare neck and shoulders were exquisite . `` The other picture is that of the man to whom she was betrothed . Tell me , Amy , do you think him handsome ? '' I looked at the other portrait critically . It was that of a young man of about twenty-five ; he was undeniably handsome , but there was something I did not like in his face and I said so . Aunt Winnifred made no reply -- she was taking out the remaining contents of the box . There was a white silk fan with delicately carved ivory sticks , a packet of old letters and a folded paper containing some dried and crumpled flowers . Aunt laid the box aside and unpacked the chest in silence . First came a ball dress of pale-yellow satin brocade , made with the trained skirt , `` baby '' waist and full puffed sleeves of a former generation . Beneath it was a case containing a necklace of small but perfect pearls and a pair of tiny satin slippers . The rest of the compartment was filled with household linen , fine and costly but yellowed with age -- damask table linen and webs of the uncut fabric . In the second compartment lay a dress .
XXXXX Winnifred lifted it out reverently .
Aunt case curves eyes fashion hair oval pair something velvet