It happened that I had heard less than usual at this period, and indeed for many months before it, of Jessie and her proceedings.

My son had been ordered out with his regiment to the Crimea in 1854, and had other work in hand now than recording the sayings and doings of a young lady.

Mr.Richard Yelverton, who had been hitherto used to write to me with tolerable regularity, seemed now, for some reason that I could not conjecture, to have forgotten my existence.

Ultimately I was reminded of my ward by one of George's own letters, in which he asked for news of her; and I wrote at once to Mr.Yelverton.The answer that reached me was written by his wife: he was dangerously ill.

The next letter that came informed me of his death.