He had, indeed, promised to come over to Allington; but this visit had not been made when Lily wrote her first letter to Crosbie.

It was a sweet, good, honest love-letter, full of assurances of unalterable affection and unlimited confidence, indulging in a little quiet fun as to the grandees of Courcy Castle, and ending with a promise that she would be happy and contented if she might receive his letters constantly, and live with the hope of seeing him at Christmas.
"I am in time, Mrs Crump, am I not ?" she said, as she walked into the post-office.
"Of course you be,--for the next half-hour.

T' postman he bain't stirred from t' ale'us yet.

Just put it into t' box wull ye ?" "But you won't leave it there ?" "Leave it there! Did you ever hear the like of that?
If you're afeared to put it in, you can take it away; that's all about it, Miss Lily." And then Mrs Crump turned away to her avocations at the washing-tub.

Mrs Crump had a bad temper, but perhaps she had some excuse.