It's Christmas Eve, and the Farnons are hosting a party for their friends and neighbors, Siegfried outwardly stating it solely to increase business for the practice, while in reality he relishes playing Father Christmas and handing out oranges to all the children playing the shepherds at the nativity play in the square outside. He also doesn't want to admit that he is looking forward to seeing Dorothy again, she who he is contemplating pursuing if he can conjure up the nerve. In he saying that he would try to attend in his last message, Mrs. Hall is also looking forward to finally seeing Edward again, that is if he keeps to his word this time. One other piece of correspondence that has arrived this day is Tristan's exam results. Siegfried and Mrs. Hall have to decide when to give the letter to Tristan in their anticipation of the actual results. Both James and Tristan will discover that animals needing their help doesn't stop just because of the holidays. It's also the day before Helen and Hugh's wedding, the one person who will not be attending being James in he planning to head home for the holiday. Helen is showing some signs of nervousness which she will discover if it is truly for her stated reason of not wanting to be the center of attention. But James and Helen's respective plans for Christmas Day may not come to pass for a reason outside of their control.
—Huggo