The next morning was the morning of Christmas Eve. At about nine o'clock a boy came into his room who was accustomed to call for orders for the day. "Jem," he said to the boy, "there's half a crown lying there on the looking-glass." Jem looked and acknowledged the presence of the half-crown. "Is it a head or a tail, Jem?" asked the boy's master. Jem scrutinized the coin, and declared that the uppermost surface showed a tail. "Then take that letter and post it," said George Vavasor. Whereupon Jem, asking no question and thinking but little of the circumstances under which the command was given, did take the letter and did post it. In due accordance with postal regulations it reached Vavasor Hall and was delivered to Alice on the Christmas morning.

The next day was Christmas Eve. At about nine o'clock in the morning a boy came into his room to ask for orders for the day.
"Jem," he said to the boy, "there's half a crown lying there on the looking-glass. Is it a head or a tail?"
Jem scrutinized the coin, and declared that the uppermost surface showed a tail.
"Then take that letter and post it," said George Vavasor. So Jem took it and posted it. It reached Vavasor Hall and was delivered to Alice on Christmas morning.
