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comfortable； and you make 'em happy。 Surround their lives； sir；
with a suitable atmosphere of furniture； and you never hear a
word of complaint drop from their lips。 Now； with regard to these
rooms； for example； siryou put a neat French bedstead in that
corner； with curtains conformablesay a tasty chintz； you put on
that bedstead what I will term a sufficiency of bedding； and you
top up with a sweet little eider…down quilt； as light as roses；
and similar the same in color。 You do that； and what follows？ You
please her eye when she lies down at night； and you please her
eye when she gets up in the morningand you're all right so far；
and so is she。 I will not dwell； sir； on the toilet…table； nor
will I seek to detain you about the glass to show her figure； and
the other glass to show her face； because I have the articles in
stock； and will be myself answerable for their effect on a lady's
mind and person。〃
He led the way into the next room as he spoke； and arranged its
future fittings； and decorations； as he had already planned out
the bedroom； with the strictest reference to the connection which
experience had shown him to exist between comfortable furniture
and female happiness。
Thus far； in my helpless state of mind； the man's confidence had
impressed me in spite of myself； and I had listened to him in
superstitious silence。 But as he continued to rise； by regular
gradations； from one climax of upholstery to another； warning
visions of his bill disclosed themselves in the remote background
of the scene of luxury and magnificence which my friend was
conjuring up。 Certain sharp professional instincts of bygone
times resumed their influence over me； I began to start doubts
and ask questions； and as a necessary consequence the interview
between us soon assumed something like a practical form。
Having ascertained what the probable expense of furnishing would
amount to and having discovered that the process of transforming
the lean…to （allowing for the time required to procure certain
articles of rarity from Bristol） would occupy nearly a fortnight；
I dismissed the upholsterer with the understanding that I should
take a day or two for consideration； and let him know the result。
It was then the fifth of September； and our Queen of Hearts was
to arrive on the twentieth。 The work； therefore； if it was begun
on the seventh or eighth； would be begun in time。
In making all my calculations with a reference to the twentieth
of September； I relied implicitly； it will be observed； on a
young lady's punctuality in keeping an appointment which she had
herself made。 I can only account for such extraordinary
simplicity on my part on the supposition that my wits had become
sadly rusted by long seclusion from society。 Whether it was
referable to this cause or not； my innocent trustfulness was at
any rate destined to be practically rebuked before long in the
most surprising manner。 Little did I suspect； when I parted from
the upholsterer on the fifth of the month； what the tenth of the
month had in store for me。
On the seventh I made up my mind to have the bedroom furnished at
once； and to postpone the question of the sitting…room for a few
days longer。 Having dispatched the necessary order to that
effect； I next wrote to hire the piano and to order the box of
novels。 This done； I congratulated myself on the forward state of
the preparations； and sat down to repose in the atmosphere of my
own happy delusions。
On the ninth the wagon arrived with the furniture； and the men
set to work on the bedroom。 From this moment Morgan retired
definitely to the top of the tower； and Owen became too nervous
to lay the necessary amount of paint on the Earthquake at Lisbon。
On the tenth the work was proceeding bravely。 Toward noon Owen
and I strolled to the door to enjoy the fine autumn sunshine。 We
were sitting lazily on our favorite bench in front of the tower
when we were startled by a shout from above us。 Looking up
directly； we saw Morgan half in and half out of his narrow window
In the seventh story； gesticulating violently with the stem of
his long meerschaum pipe in the direction of the road below us。
We gazed eagerly in the quarter thus indicated； but our low
position prevented us for some time from seeing anything。 At last
we both discerned an old yellow post…chaise distinctly and
indisputably approaching us。
Owen and I looked at one another in panic…stricken silence。 It
was coming to usand what did it contain？ Do pianos travel in
chaises？ Are boxes of novels conveyed to their destination by a
postilion？ We expected the piano and expected the novels； but
nothing elseunquestionably nothing else。
The chaise took the turn in the road； passed through the gateless
gap in our rough inclosure…wall of loose stone； and rapidly
approached us。 A bonnet appeared at the window and a hand gayly
waved a white handkerchief。
Powers of caprice； confusion； and dismay！ It was Jessie Yelverton
herselfarriving； without a word of warning； exactly ten days
before her time。
CHAPTER III。
OUR QUEEN OF' HEARTS。
THE chaise stopped in front of us； and before we had recovered
from our bewilderment the gardener had opened the door and let
down the steps。
A bright； laughing face； prettily framed round by a black veil
passed over the head and tied under the china traveling…dress
of a nankeen color； studded with blue buttons and trimmed with
white braida light brown cloak over itlittle neatly…gloved
hands； which seized in an instant on one of mine and on one of
Owen'stwo dark blue eyes； which seemed to look us both through
and through in a momenta clear； full； merrily confident
voicea look and manner gayly and gracefully
self…possessedsuch were the characteristics of our fair guest
which first struck me at the moment when she left the postchaise
and possessed herself of my hand。
〃Don't begin by scolding me；〃 she said； before I could utter a
word of welcome。 〃There will be time enough for that in the
course of the next six weeks。 I beg pardon； with all possible
humility； for the offense of coming ten days before my time。
Don't ask me to account for it； please； if you do； I shall be
obliged to confess the truth。 My dear sir； the fact is； this is
an act of impulse。〃
She paused； and looked us both in the face with a bright
confidence in her own flow of nonsense that was perfectly
irresistible。
〃I must tell you all about it；〃 she ran on； leading the way to
the bench； and inviting us； by a little mock gesture of
supplication； to seat ourselves on either side of her。 〃I feel so
guilty till I've told you。 Dear me！ how nice this is！ Here I am
quite at home already。 Isn't it odd？ Well； and how do you think
it happene d？ The morning before yesterday Matildathere is
Matilda； picking up my bonnet from the bottom of that remarkably
musty carriageMatilda came and woke me as usual； and I hadn't
an idea in my head； I assure you； till she began to brush my
hair。 Can you account for it？I can'tbut she seemed； somehow；
to brush a sudden fancy for coming here into my head。 When I went
down to breakfast； I said to my aunt； 'Darling； I have an
irresistible impuls