Invitation of Happiness

Eliza invites Candy to accompany her into town on a shopping excursion with Neil to buy a new ballroom dress. Eager, Candy joins them, only to discover she is to be the porter. Worse, Neil and Eliza leave her behind in town. On her walk back to the Leagan house, she encounters Archibald's brother, Alistear Cornwell, who offers her a lift in his car to repay her for saving his brother. However, Archi's driving and the car are not in the best shape. After several blown tires, they land with the car in the pond, and Alistear suggests a shortcut through the forest. Hopping from tree to tree, Stear discovers that Candy is even a bigger adept at it than he is. Back home much earlier than Neil and Eliza expected, Candy overhears the servants talking about the old Ardley matron who will take her residence in the Ardley estate near the Leagan home and the ball to welcome her. Briefly, Candy daydreams about attending the party and meeting her hilltop prince, but she realizes that nobody would want to invite a servant. However, both Alistear and Archibald send an official invitation for her to Mr. Leagan. Eliza protests against Candy coming with them, but Mr. Leagan has no intention to ignore two personal invitations and orders Eliza to gift a dress to Candy. Eliza gives one that is much too small to fit, and it rips when Candy tries it on. Dorothy soothes Candy's mind by reminding her that her conduct will be of far greater importance than an expensive dress out of Eliza's closet.