Chapter 2.

Limerah Chauz

November 27.

My foreboding are realized, the marriage is fixed for the 22nd of December.

The day after he left for Poles Dean Lodge, Sir Percival wrote, it seems, to Mr. Fairly,

to say that the necessary repairs and alterations in his house and hamster would occupy a much

longer time in completion than he had originally anticipated.

The proper estimates were to be submitted to him as soon as possible, and it would greatly

facilitate his entering into definite arrangements with the work people, if he could be informed

of the exact period at which the wedding ceremony might be expected to take place.

He could then make all his calculations in reference to time.

Besides writing, the necessary apologies to friends would be engaged to visit him that

winter, and who could not, of course, be received when the house was in the hands of the

workman.

To this letter, Mr. Fairly had replied by requesting Sir Percival himself to suggest

a day for the marriage, subject to Miss Fairly's approval, which her guardian willingly undertook

to do his best to obtain.

Sir Percival wrote back by the next post and proposed in accordance with his own views

and wishes from the first, the latter part of December, perhaps the 22nd or 24th, or

any other day that the lady in her guardian might prefer.

The lady, not being at hand to speak for herself, her guardian had decided in her absence, on

the earliest day mentioned the 22nd of December, and had written to recall us to limbridge in

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