This happened early in the spring of the year 1855.
I am ashamed to confess it, but the change in my own position was the first idea that crossed my mind when I read the news of Mr.Yelverton's death.

I was now left sole guardian, and Jessie Yelverton wanted a year still of coming of age.
By the next day's post I wrote to her about the altered state of the relations between us.

She was then on the Continent with her aunt, having gone abroad at the very beginning of the year.

Consequently, so far as eighteen hundred and fifty-five was concerned, the condition exacted by the will yet remained to be performed.

She had still six weeks to pass--her last six weeks, seeing that she was now twenty years old--under the roof of one of her guardians, and I was now the only guardian left.
In due course of time I received my answer, written on rose-colored paper, and expressed throughout in a tone of light, easy, feminine banter, which amused me in spite of myself.