CHAPTER VII.
WOOING AND WEDDING.
"She was made for him,--a special providence in his behalf." "Like to like,--and yet love may be dear bought." "In time comes she whom Fate sends." Until after Twelfth Night the Christmas festivities were continued; but if the truth had been admitted, the cumbrous ceremonials, the excessive eating and visiting, would have been pronounced by every one very tiresome.

Julius found it particularly so, for the festival had no roots in his boyhood's heart; and he did not include it in his dreams of pre-existence.
"It is such semblance of good fellowship, such a wearisome pretence of good wishes that mean nothing," he said one day.

"What value is there in such talk ?" "Well," answered the squire, "it isn't a bad thing for some of us to feel obliged once in a twelve months to be good-natured, and give our neighbors a kind wish.

There are them that never do it except at Christmas.

Eh?
What ?" "Such wishes mean nothing." "Nay, now, there is no need to think that kind words are false words.
There is a deal of good sometimes in a mouthful of words.