THE NEW YEAR FEAST Barbara did not die.

On the contrary, Barbara got quite well again, but her recovery was so slow that Anthony only saw her once before he was obliged to return to college.

This was on New Year's Day, when Mr.
Walrond asked him to dinner to meet Barbara, who was coming down for the first time.

Needless to say he went, taking with him a large bunch of violets which he had grown in a frame at the Hall especially for Barbara.

Indeed, she had already received many of those violets through the agency of her numerous younger sisters.
The Rectory dinner was at one o'clock, and the feast could not be called sumptuous.