"Oh！"saidOwen，moreconfusedthanbefore。"Yes——Isee；wecouldn’tdowrong，Isuppose——couldwe？——ifwegotheralittledog，andalotofnewgowns。"

Therewas，evidently，nomorehelpinthewayofadvicetobeexpectedfromOwenthanfromMorganhimself。AsIcametothatconclusion，Isawthroughthewindowouroldhousekeeperonherway，withherbasket，tothekitchen—garden，andlefttheroomtoascertainifshecouldassistus。

Tomygreatdismay，thehousekeepertookevenamoregloomyviewthanMorganoftheapproachingevent。WhenIhadexplainedallthecircumstancestoher，shecarefullyputdownherbasket，crossedherarms，andsaidtomeinslow，deliberate，mysterioustones：

"Youwantmyadviceaboutwhat’stobedonewiththisyoungwoman？Well，sir，here’smyadvice：Don’tyoutroubleyourheadabouther。Itwon’tbenouse。Mind，Itellyou，itwon’tbenouse。"

"Whatdoyoumean？"

"Youlookatthisplace，sir——it’smorelikeaprisonthanahouse，isn’tit？You，lookatusaslivesinit。We’vegot（savingyourpresence）afootapieceinourgraves，haven’twe？

Whenyouwasyoungyourself，sir，whatwouldyouhavedoneiftheyhadshutyouupforsixweeksinsuchaplaceasthis，amongyourgrandfathersandgrandmothers，withtheirfeetinthegrave？"

"Ireallycan’tsay。"

"Ican，sir。You’dhaverunaway。_She’ll_runaway。Don’tyouworryyourheadabouther——she’llsaveyouthetrouble。Itellyouagain，she’llrunaway。"

Withthoseominouswordsthehousekeepertookupherbasket，sighedheavily，andleftme。

Isatdownunderatreequitehelpless。Herewasthewholeresponsibilityshifteduponmymiserableshoulders。NotaladyintheneighborhoodtowhomIcouldapplyforassistance，andthenearestshopeightmilesdistantfromus。ThetoughestcaseI

everhadtoconduct，whenIwasattheBar，wasplainsailingcomparedwiththedifficultyofreceivingourfairguest。

Itwasabsolutelynecessary，however，todecideatoncewhereshewastosleep。Alltheroomsinthetowerwereofstone——dark，gloomy，andcoldeveninthesummer—time。Impossibletoputherinanyoneofthem。Theonlyotheralternativewastolodgeherinthelittlemodernlean—to，whichIhavealreadydescribedasbeingtackedontothesideoftheoldbuilding。Itcontainedthreecottage—rooms，andtheymightbemadebarelyhabitableforayounglady。ButthenthoseroomswereoccupiedbyMorgan。Hisbookswereinone，hisbedwasinanother，hispipesandgenerallumberwereinthethird。CouldIexpecthim，afterthesoursimilitudeshehadusedinreferencetoourexpectedvisitor，toturnoutofhishabitationanddisarrangeallhishabitsforherconvenience？Thebareideaofproposingthethingtohimseemedridiculous；andyetinexorablenecessityleftmenochoicebuttomakethehopelessexperiment。Iwalkedbacktothetowerhastilyanddesperately，tofacetheworstthatmighthappenbeforemycouragecooledaltogether。

OncrossingthethresholdofthehalldoorIwasstopped，tomygreatamazement，byaprocessionofthreeofthefarm—servants，followedbyMorgan，allwalkingaftereachother，inIndianfile，towardthespiralstaircasethatledtothetopofthetower。Thefirstoftheservantscarriedthematerialsformakingafire；

thesecondboreaninvertedarm—chaironhishead；thethirdtotteredunderaheavyloadofbooks；whileMorgancamelast，withhiscanisteroftobaccoinhishand，hisdressing—gownoverhisshoulders，andhiswholecollectionofpipeshuggeduptogetherinabundleunderhisarm。

"Whatonearthdoesthismean？"Iinquired。

"ItmeanstakingTimebytheforelock，"answeredMorgan，lookingatmewithasmileofsoursatisfaction。"I’vegotthestartofyouryoungwoman，Griffith，andI’mmakingthemostofit。"

"Butwhere，inHeaven’sname，areyougoing？"Iasked，astheheadmanoftheprocessiondisappearedwithhisfiringupthestaircase。

"Howhighisthistower？"retortedMorgan。

"Sevenstories，tobesure，"Ireplied。

"Verygood，"saidmyeccentricbrother，settinghisfootonthefirststair，"I’mgoinguptotheseventh。"

"Youcan’t，"Ishouted。

"_She_can’t，youmean，"saidMorgan，"andthat’sexactlywhyI’mgoingthere。"

"Buttheroomisnotfurnished。"

"It’soutofherreach。"

"Oneofthewindowshasfallentopieces。"

"It’soutofherreach。"

"There’sacrow’snestinthecorner。"

"It’soutofherreach。"

Bythetimethisunanswerableargumenthadattaineditsthirdrepetition，Morgan，inhisturn，haddisappearedupthewindingstairs。Iknewhimtoowelltoattemptanyfurtherprotest。

Herewasmyfirstdifficultysmoothedawaymostunexpectedly；forhereweretheroomsinthelean—toplacedbytheirowner’sfreeactanddeedatmydisposal。Iwroteonthespottotheoneupholstererofourdistantcountytowntocomeimmediatelyandsurveythepremises，andsentoffamountedmessengerwiththeletter。Thisdone，andthenecessaryorderalsodispatchedtothecarpenterandglaziertosetthematworkonMorgan’ssky—parlorintheseventhstory，Ibegantofeel，forthefirsttime，asifmyscatteredwitswerecomingbacktome。BythetimetheeveninghadclosedinIhadhitonnolessthanthreeexcellentideas，allprovidingforthefuturecomfortandamusementofourfairguest。ThefirstideawastogetheraWelshpony；thesecondwastohireapianofromthecountytown；thethirdwastosendforaboxfulofnovelsfromLondon。ImustconfessIthoughttheseprojectsforpleasingherveryhappilyconceived，andOwenagreedwithme。Morgan，asusual，tooktheoppositeview。Hesaidshewouldyawnoverthenovels，turnuphernoseatthepiano，andfractureherskullwiththepony。Asforthehousekeeper，shestucktohertextasstoutlyintheeveningasshehadstucktoitinthemorning。"Piannerornopianner，story—bookornostory—book，ponyornopony，youmarkmywords，sir——thatyoungwomanwillrunaway。"

Suchwerethehousekeeper’spartingwordswhenshewishedmegood—night。

Whenthenextmorningcame，andbroughtwithitthatterriblewakingtimewhichsetsaman’shopesandprojectsbeforehim，thegreataswellasthesmall，strippedbareofeveryillusion，itisnottobeconcealedthatIfeltlesssanguineofoursuccessinentertainingthecomingguest。Sofarasexternalpreparationswereconcerned，thereseemed，indeed，butlittletoimprove；butapartfromthese，whathadwetooffer，inourselvesandoursociety，toattracther？Therelaytheknottypointofthequestion，andtherethegranddifficultyoffindingananswer。

IfallintoseriousreflectionwhileIamdressingonthepursuitsandoccupationswithwhichwethreebrothershavebeenaccustomed，foryearspast，tobeguilethetime。Aretheyatalllikely，inthecaseofanyoneofus，tointerestoramuseher？

Mychiefoccupation，tobeginwiththeyoungest，consists，inactingasstewardonOwen’sproperty。Theroutineofmydutieshasneverlostitssoberattractiontomytastes，forithasalwaysemployedmeinwatchingthebestinterestsofmybrother，andofmysonalso，whoisonedaytobehisheir。ButcanI

expectourfairguesttosympathizewithsuchfamilyconcernsasthese？Clearlynot。

Morgan’spursuitcomesnextinorderofreview——apursuitofafarmoreambitiousnaturethanmine。Itwasalwayspartofmysecondbrother’swhimsical，self—contradictorycharactertoviewwiththeprofoundestcontemptthelearnedprofessionbywhichhegainedhislivelihood，andheisnowoccupyingthelongleisurehoursofhisoldageincomposingavoluminoustreatise，intended，oneofthesedays，toejectthewholebodycorporateofdoctorsfromthepositionwhichtheyhaveusurpedintheestimationoftheirfellow—creatures。Thisdaringworkisentitled"AnExaminationoftheClaimsofMedicineontheGratitudeofMankind。DecidedintheNegativebyaRetiredPhysician。"SofarasIcantell，thebookislikelytoextendtothedimensionsofanEncyclopedia；foritisMorgan’splantotreathiscomprehensivesubjectprincipallyfromthehistoricalpointofview，andtorundownallthedoctorsofantiquity，oneafteranother，inregularsuccession，fromthefirstofthetribe。WhenIlastheardofhisprogresshewashardontheheelsofHippocrates，buthadnoimmediateprospectoftrippinguphissuccessor，Isthisthesortofoccupation（Iaskmyself）inwhichamodernyoungladyislikelytofeeltheslightestinterest？

Onceagain，clearlynot。

Owen’sfavoriteemploymentis，initsway，quiteascharacteristicasMorgan’s，andithasthegreatadditionaladvantageofappealingtoamuchlargervarietyoftastes。Myeldestbrother——greatatdrawingandpaintingwhenhewasalad，alwaysinterestedinartistsandtheirworksinafterlife——hasresumed，inhisdecliningyears，theholidayoccupationofhisschoolboydays。Asanamateurlandscape—painter，heworkswithmoresatisfactiontohimself，usesmorecolor，wearsoutmorebrushes，andmakesagreatersmellofpaintinhisstudiothananyartistbyprofession，nativeorforeign，whomIevermetwith。Inlook，inmanner，andindisposition，thegentlestofmankind，Owen，bysomesingularanomalyinhischaracter，whichheseemstohavecaughtfromMorgan，gloriesplacidlyinthewildestandmostfrightfulrangeofsubjectswhichhisartiscapableofrepresenting。Immeasurableruins，inhowlingwildernesses，withblood—redsunsetsgleamingoverthem；

thunder—cloudsrentwithlightning，hoveringoversplittingtreesonthevergesofawfulprecipices；hurricanes，shipwrecks，waves，andwhirlpoolsfolloweachotheronhiscanvas，withoutaninterveningglimpseofquieteverydaynaturetorelievethesuccessionofpictorialhorrors。WhenIseehimathiseasel，soneatandquiet，sounpretendingandmodestinhimself，withsuchacomposedexpressiononhisattentiveface，withsuchaweakwhitehandtoguidesuchbold，bigbrushes，andwhenIlookatthefrightfulcanvasfulofterrorswhichheisserenelyaggravatinginfiercenessandintensitywitheverysuccessivetouch，Ifinditdifficulttorealizetheconnectionbetweenmybrotherandhiswork，thoughIseethembeforemenotsixinchesapart。WillthisquaintspectaclepossessanyhumorousattractionsforMissJessie？Perhapsitmay。ThereissomeslightchancethatOwen’semploymentwillbeluckyenoughtointeresther。

Thusfarmymorningcogitationsadvancedoubtfullyenough，buttheyaltogetherfailincarryingmebeyondthenarrowcircleofTheGlenTower。Itryhard，inourvisitor’sinterest，tolookintotheresourcesofthelittleworldaroundus，andIfindmyeffortsrewardedbytheprospectofatotalblank。

Isthereanypresentablelivingsoulintheneighborhoodwhomwecaninvitetomeether？Notone。Thereare，asIhavealreadysaid，nocountryseatsnearus；andsocietyinthecountytownhaslongsincelearnedtoregardusasthreemisanthropes，stronglysuspected，fromourmonasticwayoflifeandourdismalblackcostume，ofbeingpopishpriestsindisguise。InotherpartsofEnglandtheclergymanoftheparishmighthelpusoutofourdifficulty；buthereinSouthWales，andinthislatterhalfofthenineteenthcentury，wehavetheoldtypeparsonofthedaysofFieldingstillinastateofperfectpreservation。Ourlocalclergymanreceivesastipendwhichistoopaltrytobearcomparisonwiththewagesofanordinarymechanic。Indress，manners，andtastesheisaboutonalevelwiththeupperclassofagriculturallaborer。Whenattemptshavebeenmadebywell—meaninggentlefolkstorecognizetheclaimsofhisprofessionbyaskinghimtotheirhouses，hehasbeenknown，onmorethanoneoccasion，toleavehisplowman’spairofshoesinthehall，andenterthedrawing—roomrespectfullyinhisstockings。Wherehepreaches，milesandmilesawayfromusandfromthepoorcottageinwhichhelives，ifheseesanyofthecompanyinthesquire’spewyawnorfidgetintheirplaces，hetakesitasahintthattheyaretiredoflistening，andcloseshissermoninstantlyattheendofthesentence。Canweaskthismostirreverendandunclericalofmentomeetayounglady？I

doubt，evenifwemadetheattempt，whetherweshouldsucceed，byfairmeans，ingettinghimbeyondtheservants’hall。

Dismissing，therefore，allideaofinvitingvisitorstoentertainourguest，andfeeling，atthesametime，morethandoubtfulofherchanceofdiscoveringanyattractioninthesobersocietyoftheinmatesofthehouse，Ifinishmydressingandgodowntobreakfast，secretlyveeringroundtothehousekeeper’sopinionthatMissJessiewillreallybringmatterstoanabruptconclusionbyrunningaway。IfindMorganasbitterlyresignedtohisdestinyasever，andOwensoaffectionatelyanxioustomakehimselfofsomeuse，andsolamentablyignorantofhowtobegin，thatIamdriventodisembarrassmyselfofhimattheoutsetbyastratagem。

Isuggesttohimthatourvisitorissuretobeinterestedinpictures，andthatitwouldbeaprettyattention，onhispart，topaintheralandscapetohangupinherroom。Owenbrightensdirectly，informsmeinhissoftesttonesthatheisthenatworkontheEarthquakeatLisbon，andinquireswhetherIthinkshewouldlikethatsubject。Ipreservemygravitysufficientlytoanswerintheaffirmative，andmybrotherretiresmeeklytohisstudio，todepicttheengulfingofacityandthedestructionofapopulation。Morganwithdrawsinhisturntothetopofthetower，threatening，whenourguestcomes，todrawallhismealsuptohisnewresidencebymeansofabasketandstring。Iamleftaloneforanhour，andthentheupholstererarrivesfromthecountytown。

Thisworthyman，onbeinginformedofouremergency，seeshisway，apparently，toagoodstrokeofbusiness，andthereuponwinsmylastinggratitudebytaking，inoppositiontoeveryoneelse，abrightandhopefulviewofexistingcircumstances。

"You’llexcuseme，sir，"hesays，confidentially，whenIshowhimtheroomsinthelean—to，"butthisisamatterofexperience。

I’mafamilymanmyself，withgrown—updaughtersofmyown，andthenaturesofyoungwomenarewellknowntome。Maketheirroomscomfortable，andyoumake’emhappy。Surroundtheirlives，sir，withasuitableatmosphereoffurniture，andyouneverhearawordofcomplaintdropfromtheirlips。Now，withregardtotheserooms，forexample，sir——youputaneatFrenchbedsteadinthatcorner，withcurtainsconformable——sayatastychintz；youputonthatbedsteadwhatIwilltermasufficiencyofbedding；andyoutopupwithasweetlittleeider—downquilt，aslightasroses，andsimilarthesameincolor。Youdothat，andwhatfollows？Youpleasehereyewhensheliesdownatnight，andyoupleasehereyewhenshegetsupinthemorning——andyou’reallrightsofar，andsoisshe。Iwillnotdwell，sir，onthetoilet—table，norwillIseektodetainyouabouttheglasstoshowherfigure，andtheotherglasstoshowherface，becauseIhavethearticlesinstock，andwillbemyselfanswerablefortheireffectonalady’smindandperson。"

Heledthewayintothenextroomashespoke，andarrangeditsfuturefittings，anddecorations，ashehadalreadyplannedoutthebedroom，withthestrictestreferencetotheconnectionwhichexperiencehadshownhimtoexistbetweencomfortablefurnitureandfemalehappiness。

Thusfar，inmyhelplessstateofmind，theman’sconfidencehadimpressedmeinspiteofmyself，andIhadlistenedtohiminsuperstitioussilence。Butashecontinuedtorise，byregulargradations，fromoneclimaxofupholsterytoanother，warningvisionsofhisbilldisclosedthemselvesintheremotebackgroundofthesceneofluxuryandmagnificencewhichmyfriendwasconjuringup。Certainsharpprofessionalinstinctsofbygonetimesresumedtheirinfluenceoverme；Ibegantostartdoubtsandaskquestions；andasanecessaryconsequencetheinterviewbetweenussoonassumedsomethinglikeapracticalform。

Havingascertainedwhattheprobableexpenseoffurnishingwouldamounttoandhavingdiscoveredthattheprocessoftransformingthelean—to（allowingforthetimerequiredtoprocurecertainarticlesofrarityfromBristol）wouldoccupynearlyafortnight，IdismissedtheupholstererwiththeunderstandingthatIshouldtakeadayortwoforconsideration，andlethimknowtheresult。

ItwasthenthefifthofSeptember，andourQueenofHeartswastoarriveonthetwentieth。Thework，therefore，ifitwasbegunontheseventhoreighth，wouldbebegunintime。

InmakingallmycalculationswithareferencetothetwentiethofSeptember，Ireliedimplicitly，itwillbeobserved，onayounglady’spunctualityinkeepinganappointmentwhichshehadherselfmade。Icanonlyaccountforsuchextraordinarysimplicityonmypartonthesuppositionthatmywitshadbecomesadlyrustedbylongseclusionfromsociety。Whetheritwasreferabletothiscauseornot，myinnocenttrustfulnesswasatanyratedestinedtobepracticallyrebukedbeforelonginthemostsurprisingmanner。LittledidIsuspect，whenIpartedfromtheupholstereronthefifthofthemonth，whatthetenthofthemonthhadinstoreforme。

OntheseventhImadeupmymindtohavethebedroomfurnishedatonce，andtopostponethequestionofthesitting—roomforafewdayslonger。Havingdispatchedthenecessaryordertothateffect，Inextwrotetohirethepianoandtoordertheboxofnovels。Thisdone，Icongratulatedmyselfontheforwardstateofthepreparations，andsatdowntoreposeintheatmosphereofmyownhappydelusions。

Ontheninththewagonarrivedwiththefurniture，andthemensettoworkonthebedroom。FromthismomentMorganretireddefinitelytothetopofthetower，andOwenbecametoonervoustolaythenecessaryamountofpaintontheEarthquakeatLisbon。

Onthetenththeworkwasproceedingbravely。TowardnoonOwenandIstrolledtothedoortoenjoythefineautumnsunshine。Weweresittinglazilyonourfavoritebenchinfrontofthetowerwhenwewerestartledbyashoutfromaboveus。Lookingupdirectly，wesawMorganhalfinandhalfoutofhisnarrowwindowIntheseventhstory，gesticulatingviolentlywiththestemofhislongmeerschaumpipeinthedirectionoftheroadbelowus。

Wegazedeagerlyinthequarterthusindicated，butourlowpositionpreventedusforsometimefromseeinganything。Atlastwebothdiscernedanoldyellowpost—chaisedistinctlyandindisputablyapproachingus。

OwenandIlookedatoneanotherinpanic—strickensilence。Itwascomingtous——andwhatdiditcontain？Dopianostravelinchaises？Areboxesofnovelsconveyedtotheirdestinationbyapostilion？Weexpectedthepianoandexpectedthenovels，butnothingelse——unquestionablynothingelse。

Thechaisetooktheturnintheroad，passedthroughthegatelessgapinourroughinclosure—wallofloosestone，andrapidlyapproachedus。Abonnetappearedatthewindowandahandgaylywavedawhitehandkerchief。

Powersofcaprice，confusion，anddismay！ItwasJessieYelvertonherself——arriving，withoutawordofwarning，exactlytendaysbeforehertime。

CHAPTERIII。

OURQUEENOF’HEARTS。

THEchaisestoppedinfrontofus，andbeforewehadrecoveredfromourbewildermentthegardenerhadopenedthedoorandletdownthesteps。

Abright，laughingface，prettilyframedroundbyablackveilpassedovertheheadandtiedunderthechin——atraveling—dressofanankeencolor，studdedwithbluebuttonsandtrimmedwithwhitebraid——alightbrowncloakoverit——littleneatly—glovedhands，whichseizedinaninstantononeofmineandononeofOwen’s——twodarkblueeyes，whichseemedtolookusboththroughandthroughinamoment——aclear，full，merrilyconfidentvoice——alookandmannergaylyandgracefullyself—possessed——suchwerethecharacteristicsofourfairguestwhichfirststruckmeatthemomentwhensheleftthepostchaiseandpossessedherselfofmyhand。

"Don’tbeginbyscoldingme，"shesaid，beforeIcouldutterawordofwelcome。"Therewillbetimeenoughforthatinthecourseofthenextsixweeks。Ibegpardon，withallpossiblehumility，fortheoffenseofcomingtendaysbeforemytime。

Don’taskmetoaccountforit，please；ifyoudo，Ishallbeobligedtoconfessthetruth。Mydearsir，thefactis，thisisanactofimpulse。"

Shepaused，andlookedusbothinthefacewithabrightconfidenceinherownflowofnonsensethatwasperfectlyirresistible。

"Imusttellyouallaboutit，"sheranon，leadingthewaytothebench，andinvitingus，byalittlemockgestureofsupplication，toseatourselvesoneithersideofher。"IfeelsoguiltytillI’vetoldyou。Dearme！hownicethisis！HereIamquiteathomealready。Isn’titodd？Well，andhowdoyouthinkithappened？ThemorningbeforeyesterdayMatilda——thereisMatilda，pickingupmybonnetfromthebottomofthatremarkablymustycarriage——Matildacameandwokemeasusual，andIhadn’tanideainmyhead，Iassureyou，tillshebegantobrushmyhair。Canyouaccountforit？——Ican’t——butsheseemed，somehow，tobrushasuddenfancyforcominghereintomyhead。WhenIwentdowntobreakfast，Isaidtomyaunt，’Darling，IhaveanirresistibleimpulsetogotoWalesatonce，insteadofwaitingtillthetwentieth。’Shemadeallthenecessaryobjections，poordear，andmyimpulsegotstrongerandstrongerwitheveryoneofthem。’I’mquitecertain，’Isaid，’IshallnevergoatallifI

don’tgonow。’’Inthatcase，’saysmyaunt，’ringthebell，andhaveyourtrunkspacked。Yourwholefuturedependsonyourgoing；

andyouterrifymesoinexpressiblythatIshallbegladtogetridofyou。’Youmaynotthinkit，tolookather——butMatildaisatreasure；andinthreehoursmoreIwasontheGreatWesternRailway。IhavenottheleastideahowIgothere——exceptthatthemenhelpedmeeverywhere。Theyarealwayssuchdelightfulcreatures！Ihavebeencastingmyself，andmymaid，andmytrunksontheirtendermerciesateverypointinthejourney，andtheirpoliteattentionsexceedallbelief。Isleptatyourhorridlittlecountytownlastnight；andthenightbeforeImissedasteameroratrain，Iforgetwhich，andsleptatBristol；andthat’showIgothere。And，nowIamhere，Ioughttogivemyguardianakiss——oughtn’tI？ShallIcallyoupapa？IthinkI

will。AndshallIcall_you_uncle，sir，andgiveyouakisstoo？

Weshallcometoitsoonerorlater——shan’twe？——andwemayaswellbeginatonce，Isuppose。"

Herfreshyounglipstouchedmyoldwitheredcheekfirst，andthenOwen’s；asoft，momentaryshadowoftenderness，thatwasveryprettyandbecoming，passingquicklyoverthesunshineandgayetyofherfaceasshesalutedus。Thenextmomentshewasonherfeetagain，inquiring"whothewonderfulmanwaswhobuiltTheGlenTower，"andwantingtogoalloveritimmediatelyfromtoptobottom。

Aswetookherintothehouse，Imadethenecessaryapologiesforthemiserableconditionofthelean—to，andassuredherthat，tendayslater，shewouldhavefounditperfectlyreadytoreceiveher。Shewhiskedintotherooms——lookedallroundthem——whiskedoutagain——declaredshehadcometoliveintheoldTower，andnotinanymodernadditiontoit，andflatlydeclinedtoinhabitthelean—toonanytermswhatever。Iopenedmylipstostatecertainobjections，butsheslippedawayinaninstantandmadestraightfortheTowerstaircase。

"Wholiveshere？"sheasked，callingdowntous，eagerly，fromthefirst—floorlanding。

"Ido，"saidOwen；"but，ifyouwouldlikemetomoveout——"

Shewasawayupthesecondflightbeforehecouldsayanymore。

Thenextsoundweheard，asweslowlyfollowedher，wasaperemptorydrummingagainsttheroomdoorofthesecondstory。

"Anybodyhere？"weheardheraskthroughthedoor。

Icalleduptoherthat，underordinarycircumstances，Iwasthere；butthat，likeOwen，Ishouldbehappytomoveout——

Mypoliteofferwascutshortasmybrother’shadbeen。Weheardmoredrummingatthedoorofthethirdstory。Thereweretworoomsherealso——oneperfectlyempty，theotherstockedwithoddsandendsofdismal，old—fashionedfurnitureforwhichwehadnouse，andgrimlyornamentedbyalife—sizebasketfiguresupportingacompletesuitofarmorinasadlyrustycondition。

WhenOwenandIgottothethird—floorlanding，thedoorwasopen；MissJessiehadtakenpossessionoftherooms；andwefoundheronachair，dustingthemaninarmorwithhercambricpocket—handkerchief。

"Ishalllivehere，"shesaid，lookingroundatusbrisklyoverhershoulder。

Webothremonstrated，butitwasquiteinvain。Shetoldusthatshehadanimpulsetolivewiththemaninarmor，andthatshewouldhaveherway，orgobackimmediatelyinthepost—chaise，whichwepleased。Findingitimpossibletomoveher，webargainedthatsheshould，atleast，allowthenewbedandtherestofthecomfortablefurnitureinthelean—totobemovedupintotheemptyroomforhersleepingaccommodation。Sheconsentedtothiscondition，protesting，however，tothelastagainstbeingcompelledtosleepinabed，becauseitwasamodernconventionality，outofallharmonywithherplaceofresidenceandherfriendinarmor。

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读