Saga December

[Boltonian]

5 Across A large number turned up at Elaine's home (7)
I have ??T?L?T

5 Down In pursuance of learning, rapt attention will be appropriate (3)
I have ??T

24 Across Despair in Slough (7)
I have D?S?O??

[boxtops]

24 Despond

The slough of despond is a place in "Pilgrims Progress"

[bibblebub]

24a) Despond

The Slough Of Despond in Pilgrim's Progress

[boxtops]

5 APT (in the clue)

[factor-fiction]

APT may be right but the "in pursuance of learning" seems superfluous

[bibblebub]

5a) ASTOLAT = a + 'lots' reversed + at

Elaine of Astolat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaine_of_Astolat

[Voulez-vous]

Brilliant, Bibblebub! What time do you go to bed and give the rest of us a chance?! ;-))

I am a great fan BTW! :-))

[bibblebub]

oooo, is that a proposal, Voulez-vous (or v-v, if I may be so bold)? what time would you like me to go to bed?

[Voulez-vous]

v-v is fine bibble (if I may be bold also!) :-)

No, no a proposal, but you do have a beautiful mind to be sure :-))

[Boltonian]

Thank you all!