CHAPTERI。
　　OURSELVES。
　　WEwerethreequiet，lonelyoldmen，andSHEwasalively，handsomeyoungwoman，andwewereatourwits’endwhattodowithher。
　　Awordaboutourselves，firstofall——anecessaryword，toexplainthesingularsituationofourfairyoungguest。
　　Wearethreebrothers；andweliveinabarbarous，dismaloldhousecalledTheGlenTower。Ourplaceofabodestandsinahilly，lonesomedistrictofSouthWales。Nosuchthingasalineofrailwayrunsanywherenearus。Nogentleman’sseatiswithinaneasydriveofus。Weareatanunspeakablyinconvenientdistancefromatown，andthevillagetowhichwesendforourlettersisthreemilesoff。
　　Myeldestbrother，Owen，wasbroughtuptotheChurch。AlltheprimeofhislifewaspassedinapopulousLondonparish。FormoreyearsthanInowliketoreckonup，heworkedunremittingly，indefianceoffailinghealthandadversefortune，amidthemultitudinousmiseryoftheLondonpoor；andhewould，inallprobability，havesacrificedhislifetohisdutylongbeforethepresenttimeifTheGlenTowerhadnotcomeintohispossessionthroughtwounexpecteddeathsintheelderandricherbranchofourfamily。Thisopeningtohimofaplaceofrestandrefugesavedhislife。Nomaneverdrewbreathwhobetterdeservedthegiftsoffortune；fornoman，Isincerelybelieve，moretenderofothers，morediffidentofhimself，moregentle，moregenerous，andmoresimple—heartedthanOwen，everwalkedthisearth。
　　Mysecondbrother，Morgan，startedinlifeasadoctor，andlearnedallthathisprofessioncouldteachhimathomeandabroad。Herealizedamoderateindependencebyhispractice，beginninginoneofourlargenortherntownsandendingasaphysicianinLondon；but，althoughhewaswellknownandappreciatedamonghisbrethren，hefailedtogainthatsortofreputationwiththepublicwhichelevatesamanintothepositionofagreatdoctor。Theladiesneverlikedhim。Inthefirstplace，hewasugly（Morganwillexcusemeformentioningthis）；
　　inthesecondplace，hewasaninveteratesmoker，andhesmelledoftobaccowhenhefeltlanguidpulsesinelegantbedrooms；inthethirdplace，hewasthemostformidablyoutspokentellerofthetruthasregardedhimself，hisprofession，andhispatients，thateverimperiledthesocialstandingofthescienceofmedicine。Forthesereasons，andforotherswhichitisnotnecessarytomention，heneverpushedhisway，asadoctor，intothefrontranks，andhenevercaredtodoso。AboutayearafterOwencameintopossessionofTheGlenTower，Morgandiscoveredthathehadsavedasmuchmoneyforhisoldageasasensiblemancouldwant；thathewastiredoftheactivepursuit——or，ashetermedit，ofthedignifiedquackeryofhisprofession；andthatitwasonlycommoncharitytogivehisinvalidbrotheracompanionwhocouldphysichimfornothing，andsopreventhimfromgettingridofhismoneyintheworstofallpossibleways，bywastingitondoctors’bills。InaweekafterMorganhadarrivedattheseconclusions，hewassettledatTheGlenTower；
　　andfromthattime，oppositeastheircharacterswere，mytwoelderbrotherslivedtogetherintheirlonelyretreat，thoroughlyunderstanding，and，intheirverydifferentways，heartilylovingoneanother。
　　ManyyearspassedbeforeI，theyoungestofthethree——christenedbytheunmelodiousnameofGriffith——foundmyway，inmyturn，tothedrearyoldhouse，andtheshelteringquietoftheWelshhills。Mycareerinlifehadledmeawayfrommybrothers；andevennow，whenweareallunited，IhavestilltiesandintereststoconnectmewiththeouterworldwhichneitherOwennorMorganpossess。
　　IwasbroughtuptotheBar。Aftermyfirstyear’sstudyofthelaw，Iweariedofit，andstrayedasideidlyintothebrighterandmoreattractivepathsofliterature。MyoccasionaloccupationwithmypenwasvariedbylongtravelingexcursionsinallpartsoftheContinent；yearbyyearmycircleofgayfriendsandacquaintancesincreased，andIbadefairtosinkintotheconditionofawanderingdesultoryman，withoutafixedpurposeinlifeofanysort，whenIwassavedbywhathassavedmanyanotherinmysituation——anattachmenttoagoodandasensiblewoman。BythetimeIhadreachedtheageofthirty—five，Ihaddonewhatneitherofmybrothershaddonebeforeme——Ihadmarried。
　　Asasingleman，myownsmallindependence，aidedbywhatlittleadditionstoitIcouldpickupwithmypen，hadbeensufficientformywants；butwithmarriageanditsresponsibilitiescamethenecessityforseriousexertion。Ireturnedtomyneglectedstudies，andgrappledresolutely，thistime，withtheintricatedifficultiesofthelaw。IwascalledtotheBar。Mywife’sfatheraidedmewithhisinterest，andIstartedintopracticewithoutdifficultyandwithoutdelay。
　　Forthenexttwentyyearsmymarriedlifewasasceneofhappinessandprosperity，onwhichInowlookbackwithagratefultendernessthatnowordsofminecanexpress。ThememoryofmywifeisbusyatmyheartwhileIthinkofthosepasttimes。
　　Theforgottentearsriseinmyeyesagain，andtroublethecourseofmypenwhileittracesthesesimplelines。
　　Letmepassrapidlyovertheoneunspeakablemiseryofmylife；
　　letmetrytoremembernow，asItriedtorememberthen，thatshelivedtoseeouronlychild——ourson，whowassogoodtoher，whoisstillsogoodtome——growuptomanhood；thatherheadlayonmybosomwhenshedied；andthatthelastfrailmovementofherhandinthisworldwasthemovementthatbroughtitclosertoherboy’slips。
　　Iboretheblow——withGod’shelpIboreit，andbearitstill。
　　Butitstruckmeawayforeverfrommyholdonsociallife；fromthepurposesandpursuits，thecompanionsandthepleasuresoftwentyyears，whichherpresencehadsanctionedandmadedeartome。IfmysonGeorgehaddesiredtofollowmyprofession，I
　　shouldstillhavestruggledagainstmyself，andhavekeptmyplaceintheworlduntilIhadseenhimprosperousandsettled。
　　Buthischoiceledhimtothearmy；andbeforehismother’sdeathhehadobtainedhiscommission，andhadenteredonhispathinlife。Nootherresponsibilityremainedtoclaimfrommethesacrificeofmyself；mybrothershadmademyplacereadyformebytheirfireside；myheartyearned，initsdesolation，forthefriendsandcompanionsoftheoldboyishdays；mygood，bravesonpromisedthatnoyearshouldpass，aslongashewasinEngland，withouthiscomingtocheerme；andsoithappenedthatI，inmyturn，withdrewfromtheworld，whichhadoncebeenabrightandahappyworldtome，andretiredtoendmydays，peacefully，contentedly，andgratefully，asmybrothersareendingtheirs，inthesolitudeofTheGlenTower。
　　Howmanyyearshavepassedsincewehaveallthreebeenuniteditisnotnecessarytorelate。ItwillbemoretothepurposeifI
　　brieflyrecordthatwehaveneverbeenseparatedsincethedaywhichfirstsawusassembledtogetherinourhillsideretreat；
　　thatwehaveneveryetweariedofthetime，oftheplace，orofourselves；andthattheinfluenceofsolitudeonourheartsandmindshasnotalteredthemfortheworse，forithasnotembitteredustowardourfellow—creatures，andithasnotdriedupinusthesourcesfromwhichharmlessoccupationsandinnocentpleasuresmayflowrefreshinglytothelastoverthewasteplacesofhumanlife。Thusmuchforourownstory，andforthecircumstanceswhichhavewithdrawnusfromtheworldfortherestofourdays。
　　Andnowimagineusthreelonelyoldmen，tallandlean，andwhite—headed；dressed，morefrompasthabitthanfrompresentassociation，incustomarysuitsofsolemnblack：BrotherOwen，yielding，gentle，andaffectionateinlook，voice，andmanner；
　　brotherMorgan，withaquaint，surface—sournessofaddress，andatoneofdrysarcasminhistalk，whichsinglehimout，onalloccasions，asacharacterinourlittlecircle；brotherGriffithformingthelinkbetweenhistwoeldercompanions，capable，atonetime，ofsympathizingwiththequiet，thoughtfultoneofOwen’sconversation，andready，atanother，toexchangebriskseveritiesonlifeandmannerswithMorgan——inshort，apliable，double—sidedoldlawyer，whostandsbetweentheclergyman—brotherandthephysician—brotherwithanearreadyforeach，andwithaheartopentoboth，shareandsharetogether。
　　Imaginethestrangeoldbuildinginwhichwelivetobereallywhatitsnameimplies——atowerstandinginaglen；inpasttimesthefortressofafightingWelshchieftain；inpresenttimesadrearyland—lighthouse，builtupinmanystoriesoftworoomseach，withalittlemodernlean—toofcottageformtackedonquaintlytooneofitssides；thegreathill，onwhoselowestslopeitstands，risingprecipitouslybehindit；adark，swift—flowingstreaminthevalleybelow；hillsonhillsallround，andnowayofapproachbutbyoneoftheloneliestandwildestcrossroadsinallSouthWales。
　　Imaginesuchaplaceofabodeasthis，andsuchinhabitantsofitasourselves，andthempicturethedescentamongus——asofagoddessdroppingfromtheclouds——ofalively，handsome，fashionableyounglady——abright，gay，butterflycreature，usedtoflutterawayitsexistenceinthebroadsunshineofperpetualgayety——achildofthenewgeneration，withallthemodernideaswhirlingtogetherinherprettyhead，andallthemodernaccomplishmentsatthetipsofherdelicatefingers。Imaginesuchalight—hearteddaughterofEveasthis，thespoileddarlingofsociety，thecharmingspendthriftofNature’schoicesttreasuresofbeautyandyouth，suddenlyflashingintothedimlifeofthreewearyoldmen——suddenlydroppedintotheplace，ofallothers，whichisleastfitforher——suddenlyshutoutfromtheworldinthelonelyquietoftheloneliesthomeinEngland。Realize，ifitbepossible，allthatismostwhimsicalandmostanomalousinsuchasituationasthis，andthestartlingconfessioncontainedintheopeningsentenceofthesepageswillnolongerexcitethefaintestemotionofsurprise。Whocanwondernow，whenourbrightyounggoddessreallydescendedonus，thatIandmybrotherswereallthreeatourwits’endwhattodowithher！
　　CHAPTERII。
　　OURDILEMMA。
　　WHOistheyounglady？AndhowdidshefindherwayintoTheGlenTower？
　　Hername（inrelationtowhichIshallhavesomethingmoretosayalittlefurtheron）isJessieYelverton。Sheisanorphanandanonlychild。Hermotherdiedwhileshewasaninfant；herfatherwasmydearandvaluedfriend，MajorYelverton。Helivedlongenoughtocelebratehisdarling’sseventhbirthday。Whenhediedheintrustedhisauthorityoverherandhisresponsibilitytowardhertohisbrotherandtome。
　　WhenIwassummonedtothereadingofthemajor’swill，IknewperfectlywellthatIshouldhearmyselfappointedguardianandexecutorwithhisbrother；andIhadbeenalsomadeacquaintedwithmylostfriend’swishesastohisdaughter’seducation，andwithhisintentionsastothedisposalofallhispropertyinherfavor。Myownidea，therefore，was，thatthereadingofthewillwouldinformmeofnothingwhichIhadnotknowninthetestator’slifetime。Whenthedaycameforhearingit，however，I
　　foundthatIhadbeenoverhastyinarrivingatthisconclusion。
　　Towardtheendofthedocumenttherewasaclauseinsertedwhichtookmeentirelybysurprise。
　　AfterprovidingfortheeducationofMissYelvertonunderthedirectionofherguardians，andforherresidence，underordinarycircumstances，withthemajor’ssister，LadyWestwick，theclauseconcludedbysaddlingthechild’sfutureinheritancewiththiscuriouscondition：
　　Fromtheperiodofherleavingschooltotheperiodofherreachingtheageoftwenty—oneyears，MissYelvertonwastopassnotlessthansixconsecutiveweeksoutofeveryyearundertheroofofoneofhertwoguardians。Duringthelivesofbothofthem，itwaslefttoherownchoicetosaywhichofthetwoshewouldprefertolivewith。Inallotherrespectstheconditionwasimperative。Ifsheforfeitedit，excepting，ofcourse，thecaseofthedeathsofbothherguardians，shewasonlytohavealife—interestintheproperty；ifsheobeyedit，themoneyitselfwastobecomeherownpossessiononthedaywhenshecompletedhertwenty—firstyear。
　　Thisclauseinthewill，asIhavesaid，tookmeatfirstbysurprise。IrememberedhowdevotedlyLadyWestwickhadsoothedhersister—in—law’sdeath—bedsufferings，andhowtenderlyshehadafterwardwatchedoverthewelfareofthelittlemotherlesschild——Irememberedtheinnumerableclaimsshehadestablishedinthiswayonherbrother’sconfidenceinheraffectionforhisorphandaughter，andIwas，therefore，naturallyamazedattheappearanceofaconditioninhiswillwhichseemedtoshowapositivedistrustofLadyWestwick’sundividedinfluenceoverthecharacterandconductofherniece。
　　Afewwordsfrommyfellow—guardian，Mr。RichardYelverton，andalittleafter—considerationofsomeofmydeceasedfriend’speculiaritiesofdispositionandfeeling，towhichIhadnothithertoattachedsufficientimportance，wereenoughtomakemeunderstandthemotivesbywhichhehadbeeninfluencedinprovidingforthefutureofhischild。
　　MajorYelvertonhadraisedhimselftoapositionofaffluenceandeminencefromaveryhumbleorigin。Hewasthesonofasmallfarmer，anditwashispridenevertoforgetthiscircumstance，nevertobeashamedofit，andnevertoallowtheprejudicesofsocietytoinfluencehisownsettledopinionsonsocialquestionsingeneral。
　　Acting，inallthatrelatedtohisintercoursewiththeworld，onsuchprinciplesasthese，themajor，itishardlynecessarytosay，heldsomestrangelyheterodoxopinionsonthemoderneducationofgirls，andontheevilinfluenceofsocietyoverthecharactersofwomeningeneral。Outofthestrengthofthoseopinions，andoutofthecertaintyofhisconvictionthathissisterdidnotsharethem，hadgrownthatconditioninhiswillwhichremovedhisdaughterfromtheinfluenceofherauntforsixconsecutiveweeksineveryyear。LadyWestwickwasthemostlight—hearted，themostgenerous，themostimpulsiveofwomen；
　　capable，whenanyseriousoccasioncalleditforth，ofallthatwasdevotedandself—sacrificing，but，atotherandordinarytimes，constitutionallyrestless，frivolous，andeagerforperpetualgayety。Distrustingthesortoflifewhichheknewhisdaughterwouldleadunderheraunt’sroof，andatthesametimegratefullyrememberinghissister’saffectionatedevotiontowardhisdyingwifeandherhelplessinfant，MajorYelvertonhadattemptedtomakeacompromise，which，whileitallowedLadyWestwicktheclosedomesticintercoursewithherniecethatshehadearnedbyinnumerablekindoffices，should，atthesametime，placetheyounggirlforafixedperiodofeveryyearofherminorityunderthecorrectivecareoftwosuchquietold—fashionedguardiansashisbrotherandmyself。Suchisthehistoryoftheclauseinthewill。Myfriendlittlethought，whenhedictatedit，oftheextraordinaryresulttowhichitwasonedaytolead。
　　Forsomeyears，however，eventsranonsmoothlyenough。LittleJessiewassenttoanexcellentschool，withstrictinstructionstothemistresstomakeagoodgirlofher，andnotafashionableyounglady。Althoughshewasreportedtobeanythingbutapatternpupilinrespectofattentiontoherlessons，shebecamefromthefirstthechosenfavoriteofeveryoneabouther。Theveryoffenseswhichshecommittedagainstthedisciplineoftheschoolwereofthesortwhichprovokeasmileevenonthesterncountenanceofauthorityitself。Oneofthesequaintfreaksofmischiefmaynotinappropriatelybementionedhere，inasmuchasitgainedhertheprettynicknameunderwhichshewillbefoundtoappearoccasionallyinthesepages。
　　OnacertainautumnnightshortlyaftertheMidsummervacation，themistressoftheschoolfanciedshesawalightunderthedoorofthebedroomoccupiedbyJessieandthreeothergirls。Itwasthencloseonmidnight；and，fearingthatsomecaseofsuddenillnessmighthavehappened，shehastenedintotheroom。Onopeningthedoor，shediscovered，toherhorrorandamazement，thatallfourgirlswereoutofbed——weredressedinbrilliantly—fantasticcostumes，representingthefourgrotesque"Queens"ofHearts，Diamonds，Spades，andClubs，familiartousallonthepackofcards——andweredancingaquadrille，inwhichJessiesustainedthecharacterofTheQueenofHearts。Thenextmorning’sinvestigationdisclosedthatMissYelvertonhadsmuggledthedressesintotheschool，andhadamusedherselfbygivinganimpromptufancyballtohercompanions，inimitationofanentertainmentofthesamekindatwhichshehadfiguredina"court—card"quadrilleatheraunt’scountryhouse。
　　Thedresseswereinstantlyconfiscatedandthenecessarypunishmentpromptlyadministered；buttheremembranceofJessie’sextraordinaryoutrageonbedroomdisciplinelastedlongenoughtobecomeoneofthetraditionsoftheschool，andsheandhersister—culpritswerethenceforthhailedasthe"queens"ofthefour"suites"bytheirclass—companionswheneverthemistress’sbackwasturned，Whatevermighthavebecomeofthenicknamesthusemployedinrelationtotheotherthreegirls，suchamocktitleasTheQueenofHeartswastooappropriatelydescriptiveofthenaturalcharmofJessie’scharacter，aswellasoftheadventureinwhichshehadtakenthelead，nottorisenaturallytothelipsofeveryonewhoknewher。Itfollowedhertoheraunt’shouse——itcametobeashabituallyandfamiliarlyconnectedwithher，amongherfriendsofallages，asifithadbeenformallyinscribedonherbaptismalregister；andithasstolenitswayintothesepagesbecauseitfallsfrommypennaturallyandinevitably，exactlyasitoftenfallsfrommylipsinreallife。
　　WhenJessieleftschoolthefirstdifficultypresenteditself——inotherwords，thenecessityaroseoffulfillingtheconditionsofthewill。AtthattimeIwasalreadysettledatTheGlenTower，andherlivingsixweeksinourdismalsolitudeandourhumdrumsocietywas，assheherselffranklywrotemeword，quiteoutofthequestion。Fortunately，shehadalwaysgotonwellwithheruncleandhisfamily；sosheexertedherlibertyofchoice，and，muchtoherownreliefandtominealso，passedherregularsixweeksofprobation，yearafteryear，underMr。RichardYelverton’sroof。
　　DuringthisperiodIheardofherregularly，sometimesfrommyfellow—guardian，sometimesfrommysonGeorge，who，wheneverhismilitarydutiesallowedhimtheopportunity，contrivedtoseeher，nowatheraunt’shouse，andnowatMr。Yelverton’s。Theparticularsofhercharacterandconduct，whichIgleanedinthisway，morethansufficedtoconvincemethatthepoormajor’splanforthecarefultrainingofhisdaughter’sdisposition，thoughplausibleenoughintheory，waslittlebetterthanatotalfailureinpractice。MissJessie，tousetheexpressivecommonphrase，tookafterheraunt。Shewasasgenerous，asimpulsive，aslight—hearted，asfondofchange，andgayety，andfineclothes——inshort，ascompleteandgenuineawomanasLadyWestwickherself。Itwasimpossibletoreformthe"QueenofHearts，"andequallyimpossiblenottoloveher。Such，infewwords，wasmyfellow—guardian’sreportofhisexperienceofourhandsomeyoungward。
　　SothetimepassedtilltheyearcameofwhichIamnowwriting——theever—memorableyear，toEngland，oftheRussianwar。
　　IthappenedthatIhadheardlessthanusualatthisperiod，andindeedformanymonthsbeforeit，ofJessieandherproceedings。
　　MysonhadbeenorderedoutwithhisregimenttotheCrimeain1854，andhadotherworkinhandnowthanrecordingthesayingsanddoingsofayounglady。Mr。RichardYelverton，whohadbeenhithertousedtowritetomewithtolerableregularity，seemednow，forsomereasonthatIcouldnotconjecture，tohaveforgottenmyexistence。UltimatelyIwasremindedofmywardbyoneofGeorge’sownletters，inwhichheaskedfornewsofher；
　　andIwroteatoncetoMr。Yelverton。Theanswerthatreachedmewaswrittenbyhiswife：hewasdangerouslyill。Thenextletterthatcameinformedmeofhisdeath。Thishappenedearlyinthespringoftheyear1855。
　　Iamashamedtoconfessit，butthechangeinmyownpositionwasthefirstideathatcrossedmymindwhenIreadthenewsofMr。
　　Yelverton’sdeath。Iwasnowleftsoleguardian，andJessieYelvertonwantedayearstillofcomingofage。
　　Bythenextday’spostIwrotetoheraboutthealteredstateoftherelationsbetweenus。ShewasthenontheContinentwithheraunt，havinggoneabroadattheverybeginningoftheyear。
　　Consequently，sofaraseighteenhundredandfifty—fivewasconcerned，theconditionexactedbythewillyetremainedtobeperformed。Shehadstillsixweekstopass——herlastsixweeks，seeingthatshewasnowtwentyyearsold——undertheroofofoneofherguardians，andIwasnowtheonlyguardianleft。
　　InduecourseoftimeIreceivedmyanswer，writtenonrose—coloredpaper，andexpressedthroughoutinatoneoflight，easy，femininebanter，whichamusedmeinspiteofmyself。MissJessie，accordingtoherownaccount，washesitating，onreceiptofmyletter，betweentwoalternatives——theone，ofallowingherselftobeburiedsixweeksinTheGlenTower；theother，ofbreakingthecondition，givingupthemoney，andremainingmagnanimouslycontentedwithnothingbutalife—interestinherfather’sproperty。Atpresentsheinclineddecidedlytowardgivingupthemoneyandescapingtheclutchesof"thethreehorridoldmen；"butshewouldletmeknowagainifshehappenedtochangehermind。Andso，withbestlove，shewouldbegtoremainalwaysaffectionatelymine，aslongasshewaswelloutofmyreach。
　　Thesummerpassed，theautumncame，andIneverheardfromheragain。Underordinarycircumstances，thislongsilencemighthavemademefeelalittleuneasy。ButnewsreachedmeaboutthistimefromtheCrimeathatmysonwaswounded——notdangerously，thankGod，butstillseverelyenoughtobelaidup——andallmyanxietieswerenowcenteredinthatdirection。BythebeginningofSeptember，however，Igotbetteraccountsofhim，andmymindwasmadeeasyenoughtoletmethinkofJessieagain。JustasI
　　wasconsideringthenecessityofwritingoncemoretomyrefractoryward，asecondletterarrivedfromher。Shehadreturnedatlastfromabroad，hadsuddenlychangedhermind，suddenlygrownsickofsociety，suddenlybecomeenamoredofthepleasuresofretirement，andsuddenlyfoundoutthatthethreehorridoldmenwerethreedearoldmen，andthatsixweeks’
　　solitudeatTheGlenTowerwastheluxury，ofallothers，thatshelanguishedformost。Asanecessaryresultofthisalteredstateofthings，shewouldthereforenowproposetospendherallottedsixweekswithherguardian。WemightcertainlyexpectheronthetwentiethofSeptember，andshewouldtakethegreatestcaretofitherselfforoursocietybyarrivinginthelowestpossiblespirits，andbringingherownsackclothandashesalongwithher。
　　Thefirstordealtowhichthisalarmingletterforcedmetosubmitwasthebreakingofthenewsitcontainedtomytwobrothers。Thedisclosureaffectedthemverydifferently。PoordearOwenmerelyturnedpale，liftedhisweak，thinhandsinapanic—strickenmanner，andthensatstaringatmeinspeechlessandmotionlessbewilderment。Morganstoodupstraightbeforeme，plungedbothhishandsintohispockets，burstsuddenlyintotheharshestlaughIeverheardfromhislips，andtoldme，withanairoftriumph，thatitwasexactlywhatheexpected。
　　"Whatyouexpected？"Irepeated，inastonishment。
　　"Yes，"returnedMorgan，withhisbitterestemphasis。"Itdoesn’tsurprisemeintheleast。It’sthewaythingsgointhisworld——it’stheregularmoralsee—sawofgoodandevil——theoldstorywiththeoldendtoit。TheyweretoohappyinthegardenofEden——downcomestheserpentandturnsthemout。Solomonwastoowise——downcomestheQueenofSheba，andmakesafoolofhim。
　　We’vebeentoocomfortableatTheGlenTower——downcomesawoman，andsetsusallthreebytheearstogether。AllIwonderatisthatithasn’thappenedbefore。"WiththosewordsMorganresignedlytookouthispipe，putonhisoldfelthatandturnedtothedoor。
　　"You’renotgoingawaybeforeshecomes？"exclaimedOwen，piteously。"Don’tleaveus——pleasedon’tleaveus！"
　　"Going！"criedMorgan，withgreatcontempt。"WhatshouldIgainbythat？Whendestinyhasfoundamanout，andheatedhisgridironforhim，hehasnothinglefttodo，thatIknowof，buttogetupandsitonit。"
　　Iopenedmylipstoprotestagainsttheimpliedcomparisonbetweenayoungladyandahotgridiron，but，beforeIcouldspeak，Morganwasgone。
　　"Well，"IsaidtoOwen，"wemustmakethebestofit。Wemustbrushupourmanners，andsetthehousetidy，andamuseheraswellaswecan。Thedifficultyiswheretoputher；and，whenthatissettled，thenextpuzzlewillbe，whattoorderintomakehercomfortable。It’sahardthing，brother，tosaywhatwillorwhatwillnotpleaseayounglady’staste。"
　　Owenlookedabsentlyatme，ingreaterbewildermentthanever——openedhiseyesinperplexedconsideration——repeatedtohimselfslowlytheword"tastes"——andthenhelpedmewiththissuggestion：
　　"Hadn’twebetterbegin，Griffith，bygettingheraplum—cake？"
　　"MydearOwen，"Iremonstrated，"itisagrownyoungwomanwhoiscomingtoseeus，notalittlegirlfromschool。"