On the next day, Christmas Day, as the reader will remember, Grace Crawley was taken up to dine at the big house with the old squire.  Mrs Dale’s eldest daughter, with her husband, Dr Crofts, was to be there; and also Lily’s old friend, who was also especially the old friend of Johnny Eames, Lady Julia De Guest.  Grace had endeavoured to be excused from the party, pleading many pleas.  But the upshot of all her pleas was this—­that while her father’s position was so painful she ought not to go out anywhere.  In answer to this, Lily Dale, corroborated by her mother, assured her that for her father’s sake she ought not to exhibit any such feeling; that in doing so, she would seem to express a doubt as to her father’s innocence.  Then she allowed herself to be persuaded, telling her friend, however, that she knew the day would be very miserable to her.  ‘It will be very humdrum, if you please,’ said Lily.  ’Nothing can be more humdrum than Christmas at the Great House.  Nevertheless, you must go.’

Coming out of the church, Grace was introduced to the old squire.  He was a thin, old man, with grey hair, and the smallest possible grey whiskers, with a dry, solemn face; not carrying in his outward gait much of the customary jollity for Christmas.  He took his hat off to Grace, and said some word to her as to hoping to have the pleasure of seeing her at dinner.  It sounded very cold to her, and she became at once afraid of him.  ‘I wish I was not going,’ she said to Lily, again.  ’I know he thinks I ought not to go.  I shall be so thankful if you will but let me stay.’

’Don’t be foolish, Grace.  It all comes from your not knowing him, or understanding him.  And how should you understand him?  I give you my word that I would tell you if I did not know that he wishes you to go.’

She had to go.  ‘Of course I haven’t a dress fit.  How should I?’ she said to Lily.  ’How wrong it is of me to put myself up in such a thing as this.’

’Your dress is beautiful, child.  We are none of us going in evening dresses.  Pray believe me that I will not make you do wrong.  If you won’t trust me, can’t you trust mamma?’

Of course she went.  When the three ladies entered the drawing-room of the Great House, they found that Lady Julia had arrived just before them.  Lady Julia immediately took hold of Lily, and had her apart, having a word or two to say about the clerk at the Income-tax Office.  I am not sure but what the dear old woman sometimes said a few more words than were expedient, with a view to the object which she had so closely at heart.  ‘John is to be with us the first week in February,’ she said.  ’I suppose you’ll see him before that, as he’ll probably be with his mother a few days before he comes to me.’’

‘I daresay we shall see him quite in time, Lady Julia,’ said Lily.

‘Now, Lily, don’t be ill-natured.’

’I’m the most good-natured young woman alive, Lady Julia; and as for Johnny, he is always as welcome at the Small House as violets in March.  Mamma purrs about him when he comes, asking all manner of flattering questions as though he were a cabinet minister at least, and I always admire some little knickknack that he has got, a new ring, or a stud, or a button.  There isn’t another man in all the world whose buttons I’d look at.’