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of my wife is busy at my heart while I think of those past times。
The forgotten tears rise in my eyes again； and trouble the course
of my pen while it traces these simple lines。
Let me pass rapidly over the one unspeakable misery of my life；
let me try to remember now； as I tried to remember then； that she
lived to see our only childour son； who was so good to her； who
is still so good to megrow up to manhood； that her head lay on
my bosom when she died； and that the last frail movement of her
hand in this world was the movement that brought it closer to her
boy's lips。
I bore the blowwith God's help I bore it； and bear it still。
But it struck me away forever from my hold on social life； from
the purposes and pursuits； the companions and the pleasures of
twenty years； which her presence had sanctioned and made dear to
me。 If my son George had desired to follow my profession； I
should still have struggled against myself； and have kept my
place in the world until I had seen h im prosperous and settled。
But his choice led him to the army； and before his mother's death
he had obtained his commission； and had entered on his path in
life。 No other responsibility remained to claim from me the
sacrifice of myself； my brothers had made my place ready for me
by their fireside； my heart yearned； in its desolation； for the
friends and companions of the old boyish days； my good； brave son
promised that no year should pass； as long as he was in England；
without his coming to cheer me； and so it happened that I； in my
turn； withdrew from the world； which had once been a bright and a
happy world to me； and retired to end my days； peacefully；
contentedly； and gratefully； as my brothers are ending theirs； in
the solitude of The Glen Tower。
How many years have passed since we have all three been united it
is not necessary to relate。 It will be more to the purpose if I
briefly record that we have never been separated since the day
which first saw us assembled together in our hillside retreat；
that we have never yet wearied of the time； of the place； or of
ourselves； and that the influence of solitude on our hearts and
minds has not altered them for the worse； for it has not
embittered us toward our fellow…creatures； and it has not dried
up in us the sources from which harmless occupations and innocent
pleasures may flow refreshingly to the last over the waste places
of human life。 Thus much for our own story； and for the
circumstances which have withdrawn us from the world for the rest
of our days。
And now imagine us three lonely old men； tall and lean； and
white…headed； dressed； more from past habit than from present
association； in customary suits of solemn black： Brother Owen；
yielding； gentle； and affectionate in look； voice； and manner；
brother Morgan； with a quaint； surface…sourness of address； and a
tone of dry sarcasm in his talk； which single him out； on all
occasions； as a character in our little circle； brother Griffith
forming the link between his two elder companions； capable； at
one time； of sympathizing with the quiet； thoughtful tone of
Owen's conversation； and ready； at another； to exchange brisk
severities on life and manners with Morganin short； a pliable；
double…sided old lawyer； who stands between the clergyman…brother
and the physician…brother with an ear ready for each； and with a
heart open to both； share and share together。
Imagine the strange old building in which we live to be really
what its name impliesa tower standing in a glen； in past times
the fortress of a fighting Welsh chieftain； in present times a
dreary land…lighthouse； built up in many stories of two rooms
each； with a little modern lean…to of cottage form tacked on
quaintly to one of its sides； the great hill； on whose lowest
slope it stands； rising precipitously behind it； a dark；
swift…flowing stream in the valley below； hills on hills all
round； and no way of approach but by one of the loneliest and
wildest crossroads in all South Wales。
Imagine such a place of abode as this； and such inhabitants of it
as ourselves； and them picture the descent among usas of a
goddess dropping from the cloudsof a lively； handsome；
fashionable young ladya bright； gay； butterfly creature； used
to flutter away its existence in the broad sunshine of perpetual
gayetya child of the new generation； with all the modern ideas
whirling together in her pretty head； and all the modern
accomplishments at the tips of her delicate fingers。 Imagine such
a light…hearted daughter of Eve as this； the spoiled darling of
society； the charming spendthrift of Nature's choicest treasures
of beauty and youth； suddenly flashing into the dim life of three
weary old mensuddenly dropped into the place； of all others；
which is least fit for hersuddenly shut out from the world in
the lonely quiet of the loneliest home in England。 Realize； if it
be possible； all that is most whimsical and most anomalous in
such a situation as this； and the startling confession contained
in the opening sentence of these pages will no longer excite the
faintest emotion of surprise。 Who can wonder now； when our bright
young goddess really descended on us； that I and my brothers were
all three at our wits' end what to do with her！
CHAPTER II。
OUR DILEMMA。
WHO is the young lady？ And how did she find her way into The Glen
Tower？
Her name （in relation to which I shall have something more to say
a little further on） is Jessie Yelverton。 She is an orphan and an
only child。 Her mother died while she was an infant； her father
was my dear and valued friend； Major Yelverton。 He lived long
enough to celebrate his darling's seventh birthday。 When he died
he intrusted his authority over her and his responsibility toward
her to his brother and to me。
When I was summoned to the reading of the major's will； I knew
perfectly well that I should hear myself appointed guardian and
executor with his brother； and I had been also made acquainted
with my lost friend's wishes as to his daughter's education； and
with his intentions as to the disposal of all his property in her
favor。 My own idea； therefore； was； that the reading of the will
would inform me of nothing which I had not known in the
testator's lifetime。 When the day came for hearing it； however； I
found that I had been over hasty in arriving at this conclusion。
Toward the end of the document there was a clause inserted which
took me entirely by surprise。
After providing for the education of Miss Yelverton under the
direction of her guardians； and for her residence； under ordinary
circumstances； with the major's sister； Lady Westwick； the clause
concluded by saddling the child's future inheritance with this
curious condition：
From the period of her leaving school to the period of her
reaching the age of twenty…one years； Miss Yelverton was to pass
not less than six consecutive weeks out of every year under the
roof of one of her two guardians。 During the lives of both of
them； it was left to her own choice to say which of the two she
would prefer to live with。 In all other respects the condition
was imperative。 If she forfeited it； excepting； of