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。\"