Answer: It describes the event as one that was bound to happen.
Explanation:
The story <em>"The guilty party" </em>is about a girl named Liz. It was written by O. Henry, a writer famous for his short stories which often have a surprising ending. The story deals with Liz's obligation to get married.
Paragraph 40 describes the event in the luck of Liz. Liz is the girl in a green silk skirt, and she cannot escape her fate - she has to get married, and there is no possible way to change it. This is why the author includes a word play to refer to this event, and describes Liz as <em>"Fate in a green silk skirt."</em>
