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the upholsterer on the fifth of the month； what the tenth of the
month had in store for me。
On the seventh I made up my mind to have the bedroom furnished at
once； and to postpone the question of the sitting…room for a few
days longer。 Having dispatched the necessary order to that
effect； I next wrote to hire the piano and to order the box of
novels。 This done； I congratulated myself on the forward state of
the preparations； and sat down to repose in the atmosphere of my
own happy delusions。
On the ninth the wagon arrived with the furniture； and the men
set to work on the bedroom。 From this moment Morgan retired
definitely to the top of the tower； and Owen became too nervous
to lay the necessary amount of paint on the Earthquake at Lisbon。
On the tenth the work was proceeding bravely。 Toward noon Owen
and I strolled to the door to enjoy the fine autumn sunshine。 We
were sitting lazily on our favorite bench in front of the tower
when we were startled by a shout from above us。 Looking up
directly； we saw Morgan half in and half out of his narrow window
In the seventh story； gesticulating violently with the stem of
his long meerschaum pipe in the direction of the road below us。
We gazed eagerly in the quarter thus indicated； but our low
position prevented us for some time from seeing anything。 At last
we both discerned an old yellow post…chaise distinctly and
indisputably approaching us。
Owen and I looked at one another in panic…stricken silence。 It
was coming to usand what did it contain？ Do pianos travel in
chaises？ Are boxes of novels conveyed to their destination by a
postilion？ We expected the piano and expected the novels； but
nothing elseunquestionably nothing else。
The chaise took the turn in the road； passed through the gateless
gap in our rough inclosure…wall of loose stone； and rapidly
approached us。 A bonnet appeared at the window and a hand gayly
waved a white handkerchief。
Powers of caprice； confusion； and dismay！ It was Jessie Yelverton
herselfarriving； without a word of warning； exactly ten days
before her time。
CHAPTER III。
OUR QUEEN OF' HEARTS。
THE chaise stopped in front of us； and before we had recovered
from our bewilderment the gardener had opened the door and let
down the steps。
A bright； laughing face； prettily framed round by a black veil
passed over the head and tied under the china traveling…dress
of a nankeen color； studded with blue buttons and trimmed with
white braida light brown cloak over itlittle neatly…gloved
hands； which seized in an instant on one of mine and on one of
Owen'stwo dark blue eyes； which seemed to look us both through
and through in a momenta clear； full； merrily confident
voicea look and manner gayly and gracefully
self…possessedsuch were the characteristics of our fair guest
which first struck me at the moment when she left the postchaise
and possessed herself of my hand。
〃Don't begin by scolding me；〃 she said； before I could utter a
word of welcome。 〃There will be time enough for that in the
course of the next six weeks。 I beg pardon； with all possible
humility； for the offense of coming ten days before my time。
Don't ask me to account for it； please； if you do； I shall be
obliged to confess the truth。 My dear sir； the fact is； this is
an act of impulse。〃
She paused； and looked us both in the face with a bright
confidence in her own flow of nonsense that was perfectly
irresistible。
〃I must tell you all about it；〃 she ran on； leading the way to
the bench； and inviting us； by a little mock gesture of
supplication； to seat ourselves on either side of her。 〃I feel so
guilty till I've told you。 Dear me！ how nice this is！ Here I am
quite at home already。 Isn't it odd？ Well； and how do you think
it happene d？ The morning before yesterday Matildathere is
Matilda； picking up my bonnet from the bottom of that remarkably
musty carriageMatilda came and woke me as usual； and I hadn't
an idea in my head； I assure you； till she began to brush my
hair。 Can you account for it？I can'tbut she seemed； somehow；
to brush a sudden fancy for coming here into my head。 When I went
down to breakfast； I said to my aunt； 'Darling； I have an
irresistible impulse to go to Wales at once； instead of waiting
till the twentieth。' She made all the necessary objections； poor
dear； and my impulse got stronger and stronger with every one of
them。 'I'm quite certain；' I said； 'I shall never go at all if I
don't go now。' 'In that case；' says my aunt； 'ring the bell； and
have your trunks packed。 Your whole future depends on your going；
and you terrify me so inexpressibly that I shall be glad to get
rid of you。' You may not think it； to look at herbut Matilda is
a treasure； and in three hours more I was on the Great Western
Railway。 I have not the least idea how I got hereexcept that
the men helped me everywhere。 They are always such delightful
creatures！ I have been casting myself； and my maid； and my trunks
on their tender mercies at every point in the journey； and their
polite attentions exceed all belief。 I slept at your horrid
little county town last night； and the night before I missed a
steamer or a train； I forget which； and slept at Bristol； and
that's how I got here。 And； now I am here； I ought to give my
guardian a kissoughtn't I？ Shall I call you papa？ I think I
will。 And shall I call _you_ uncle； sir； and give you a kiss too？
We shall come to it sooner or latershan't we？and we may as
well begin at once； I suppose。〃
Her fresh young lips touched my old withered cheek first； and
then Owen's； a soft； momentary shadow of tenderness； that was
very pretty and becoming； passing quickly over the sunshine and
gayety of her face as she saluted us。 The next moment she was on
her feet again； inquiring 〃who the wonderful man was who built
The Glen Tower；〃 and wanting to go all over it immediately from
top to bottom。
As we took her into the house； I made the necessary apologies for
the miserable condition of the lean…to； and assured her that； ten
days later； she would have found it perfectly ready to receive
her。 She whisked into the roomslooked all round themwhisked
out againdeclared she had come to live in the old Tower； and
not in any modern addition to it； and flatly declined to inhabit
the lean…to on any terms whatever。 I opened my lips to state
certain objections； but she slipped away in an instant and made
straight for the Tower staircase。
〃Who lives here？〃 she asked； calling down to us； eagerly； from
the first…floor landing。
〃I do；〃 said Owen； 〃but； if you would like me to move out〃
She was away up the second flight before he could say any more。
The next sound we heard； as we slowly followed her； was a
peremptory drumming against the room door of the second story。
〃Anybody here？〃 we heard her ask through the door。
I called up to her that； under ordinary circumstances； I was
there； but that； like Owen； I should be happy to move out
My polite offer was cut short as my brother's had been。 We heard
more drumming at the door of the third story。 There were two
rooms here alsoone perfectly empty； the other stocked with odds
and ends of dismal； old…fashioned furniture for which we had no
use； and grimly ornamented by a life…size basket figure
supporting a complete suit of armor in a sadly rusty condition。
When Owen and I got to the third…floor landing； the door was
open； Miss Jessie had taken possession of the rooms； and we found
her on a chair； dusting the man in armor with her cambric
pocket…handkerchief。
〃I shall live here；〃 she said； looking round at us briskly over
her shoulder。
We both remonstrated； but it was quite in vain。 She told us that
she had an impulse to live with the man in armor； and that she
would have her way； or go back immediately in the post…chaise；
which we pleased。 Finding it impossible to move her； we bargained
that she should； at least； allow the new bed and the rest of the
comfortable furniture in the lean…to to be moved up into the
empty room for her sleeping accommodation。 She consented to this
condition； protesting； however； to the last against being
compelled to sleep in a bed； because it was a modern
conventionality； out of all harmony with her place of residence
and her friend in armor。
Fortunately for the repose of Morgan； who； under other
circumstances； would have discovered on the very first day that
his airy retreat was by no means high enough to place him out of
Jessie's reach； the idea of settling herself instantly in her new
habitation excluded every other idea from the mind of our fair
guest。 She pinned up the nankeen…colored traveling dress in
festoons all round her on the spot； informed us that we were now
about to make acquaintance with her in the new character of a
woman of business； and darted downstairs in mad high spirits；
screaming for Matilda and the trunks like a child for a set of
new toys。 The wholesome protest of Nature against the artificial
restraints of modern life expressed itself in all that she said
and in all that she did。 She had never known what it was to be
happy before； because she had never been allowed； until now； to
do anything for herself。 She was down on her kne