ought
to you by Stickling," the note said; but who Stickling was Vavasor
did not know. "I send the bill. Couldn't you get the money and send
it me, as I don't want to go up to town again before the thing comes
off? You're a trump; and will do the best you can. Don't let that
rogue off for less than a hundred and twenty.--Yours, B. F." Vavasor,
therefore, having nothing better to do, spent his Christmas morning
in calling on Mr Magruin.

"Oh, Mr Vavasor," said Magruin; "really this is no morning for
business!"

"Time and tide wait for no man, Mr Magruin, and my friend wants his
money to-morrow."

"Oh, Mr Vavasor,--to-morrow!"

"Yes, to-morrow. If time and tide won't wait, neither will love.
Come, Mr Magruin, out with your cheque-book, and don't let's have any
nonsense."

"But is the lady sure, Mr Vavasor?" asked Mr Magruin, anxiously.

"Ladies never are sure," said Vavasor; "hardly more sure than bills
made over to money-lenders. I'm not going to wait here all day. Are
you going to give him the money?"

"Christmas-day, Mr Vavasor! There's no getting money in the city
to-day."

But Vavasor before he left did get the money from Mr Magruin,--L122
10s.--for which an acceptance at two months for L500 was given
in exchange,--and carried it off in triumph. "Do tell him to be
punctual," said Mr Magruin, when Vavasor took his leave. "I do so
like young men to be punctual. But I really think Mr Fitzgerald is
the most unpunctual young man I ever did know yet."

"I think he is," said George Vavasor, as he went away.

He ate his Christmas dinner in absolute solitude at an eating-house
near his lodgings. It may be supposed that no man dares to dine at
his club on a Christmas Day. He at any rate did not so dare;--and
after dinner he wandered about through the streets, wondering within
his mind how he would endure the restraints of married life. And the
same dull monotony of his days was continued for a week, during which
he waited, not impatiently, for an answer to his letter. And before
the end of the week the answer came.

CHAPTER XXXI

Among the Fells

Alice came down to breakfast on that Christmas morning at Vavasor
Hall without making any sign as to the letter she had received. The
party there consisted of her grandfather, her father, her cousin
Kate, and herself. They all made their Christmas salutations as is
usual, and Alice received and made hers as did the others, without
showing that anything had