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would prefer to live with。 In all other respects the condition
was imperative。 If she forfeited it； excepting； of course； the
case of the deaths of both her guardians； she was only to have a
life…interest in the property； if she obeyed it； the money itself
was to become her own possession on the day when she completed
her twenty…first year。
This clause in the will； as I have said； took me at first by
surprise。 I remembered how devotedly Lady Westwick had soothed
her sister…in…law's death…bed sufferings； and how tenderly she
had afterward watched over the welfare of the little motherless
childI remembered the innumerable claims she had established in
this way on her brother's confidence in her affection for his
orphan daughter； and I was； therefore； naturally amazed at the
appearance of a condition in his will which seemed to show a
positive distrust of Lady Westwick's undivided influence over the
character and conduct of her niece。
A few words from my fellow…guardian； Mr。 Richard Yelverton； and a
little after…consideration of some of my deceased friend's
peculiarities of disposition and feeling； to which I had not
hitherto attached sufficient importance； were enough to make me
understand the motives by which he had been influenced in
providing for the future of his child。
Major Yelverton had raised himself to a position of affluence and
eminence from a very humble origin。 He was the son of a small
farmer； and it was his pride never to forget this circumstance；
never to be ashamed of it； and never to allow the prejudices of
society to influence his own settled opinions on social questions
in general。
Acting； in all that related to his intercourse with the world； on
such principles as these； the major； it is hardly necessary to
say； held some strangely heterodox opinions on the modern
education of girls； and on the evil influence of society over the
characters of women in general。 Out of the strength of those
opinions； and out of the certainty of his conviction that his
sister did not share them； had grown that condition in his will
which removed his daughter from the influence of her aunt for six
consec utive weeks in every year。 Lady Westwick was the most
light…hearted； the most generous； the most impulsive of women；
capable； when any serious occasion called it forth； of all that
was devoted and self…sacrificing； but； at other and ordinary
times； constitutionally restless； frivolous； and eager for
perpetual gayety。 Distrusting the sort of life which he knew his
daughter would lead under her aunt's roof； and at the same time
gratefully remembering his sister's affectionate devotion toward
his dying wife and her helpless infant； Major Yelverton had
attempted to make a compromise； which； while it allowed Lady
Westwick the close domestic intercourse with her niece that she
had earned by innumerable kind offices； should； at the same time；
place the young girl for a fixed period of every year of her
minority under the corrective care of two such quiet
old…fashioned guardians as his brother and myself。 Such is the
history of the clause in the will。 My friend little thought； when
he dictated it； of the extraordinary result to which it was one
day to lead。
For some years； however； events ran on smoothly enough。 Little
Jessie was sent to an excellent school； with strict instructions
to the mistress to make a good girl of her； and not a fashionable
young lady。 Although she was reported to be anything but a
pattern pupil in respect of attention to her lessons； she became
from the first the chosen favorite of every one about her。 The
very offenses which she committed against the discipline of the
school were of the sort which provoke a smile even on the stern
countenance of authority itself。 One of these quaint freaks of
mischief may not inappropriately be mentioned here； inasmuch as
it gained her the pretty nickname under which she will be found
to appear occasionally in these pages。
On a certain autumn night shortly after the Midsummer vacation；
the mistress of the school fancied she saw a light under the door
of the bedroom occupied by Jessie and three other girls。 It was
then close on midnight； and； fearing that some case of sudden
illness might have happened； she hastened into the room。 On
opening the door； she discovered； to her horror and amazement；
that all four girls were out of bedwere dressed in
brilliantly…fantastic costumes； representing the four grotesque
〃Queens〃 of Hearts； Diamonds； Spades； and Clubs； familiar to us
all on the pack of cardsand were dancing a quadrille； in which
Jessie sustained the character of The Queen of Hearts。 The next
morning's investigation disclosed that Miss Yelverton had
smuggled the dresses into the school； and had amused herself by
giving an impromptu fancy ball to her companions； in imitation of
an entertainment of the same kind at which she had figured in a
〃court…card〃 quadrille at her aunt's country house。
The dresses were instantly confiscated and the necessary
punishment promptly administered； but the remembrance of Jessie's
extraordinary outrage on bedroom discipline lasted long enough to
become one of the traditions of the school； and she and her
sister…culprits were thenceforth hailed as the 〃queens〃 of the
four 〃suites〃 by their class…companions whenever the mistress's
back was turned； Whatever might have become of the nicknames thus
employed in relation to the other three girls； such a mock title
as The Queen of Hearts was too appropriately descriptive of the
natural charm of Jessie's character； as well as of the adventure
in which she had taken the lead； not to rise naturally to the
lips of every one who knew her。 It followed her to her aunt's
houseit came to be as habitually and familiarly connected with
her； among her friends of all ages； as if it had been formally
inscribed on her baptismal register； and it has stolen its way
into these pages because it falls from my pen naturally and
inevitably； exactly as it often falls from my lips in real life。
When Jessie left school the first difficulty presented itselfin
other words； the necessity arose of fulfilling the conditions of
the will。 At that time I was already settled at The Glen Tower；
and her living six weeks in our dismal solitude and our humdrum
society was； as she herself frankly wrote me word； quite out of
the question。 Fortunately； she had always got on well with her
uncle and his family； so she exerted her liberty of choice； and；
much to her own relief and to mine also； passed her regular six
weeks of probation； year after year； under Mr。 Richard
Yelverton's roof。
During this period I heard of her regularly； sometimes from my
fellow…guardian； sometimes from my son George； who； whenever his
military duties allowed him the opportunity； contrived to see
her； now at her aunt's house； and now at Mr。 Yelverton's。 The
particulars of her character and conduct； which I gleaned in this
way； more than sufficed to convince me that the poor major's plan
for the careful training of his daughter's disposition； though
plausible enough in theory； was little better than a total
failure in practice。 Miss Jessie；