Early in that conversation which Mr. Vavasor had with his daughter, and which was recorded a few pages back, he implored her to pause a while before she informed Mr. Grey of her engagement with her cousin. Nothing, however, on that point had been settled between them. Mr. Vavasor had wished her to say that she would not write till he should have assented to her doing so. She had declined to bind herself in this way, and then they had gone off to other things;--to George Vavasor's character and the disposition of her money. Alice, however, had felt herself bound not to write to Mr. Grey quite at once. Indeed, when her cousin left her she had no appetite for writing such a letter as hers was to be. A day or two passed by her in this way, and nothing more was said by her or her father. It was now the middle of January, and the reader may remember that Mr. Grey had promised that he would come to her in London in that month, as soon as he should know that she had returned from Westmoreland. She must at any rate do something to prevent that visit. Mr. Grey would not come without giving her notice. 
Mr. Vavasor had implored Alice to wait before she informed Mr. Grey of her engagement with her cousin. Although she had declined, she did not feel bound to write to Mr. Grey at once. Indeed, when her cousin left her she had no appetite for writing such a letter. It was now the middle of January, and the reader may remember that Mr. Grey had promised that he would visit her in London that month. She must do something to prevent that visit. 