"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。