Chapter 5
Christmas Day was one of great enjoyment. The ground floor of the house was redolent with the scent of rich greenery, all tastefully arranged and widely praised. The local church was packed for the morning service as they sang joyous carols. Then they returned to the house to feast, the children playing with their new toys while the table was arranged to be big enough for all the company.
Despite the crowd of people, it felt oddly intimate, as the Grants had let most of the staff celebrate with their own families. In this way, guests served themselves with food and even volunteered to take some of the serving dishes back to the kitchens. The whole atmosphere of amicable Christmas spirit made this enjoyable.
Jonathan marvelled at the informality of the Grants’ household. In his
