THE FRAME OF THE PICTURE 335 



me this winter pending the repairing of the house, 

 which Amos Opie himself is to superintend. I wish 

 I could fathom the ins and outs of the matter, which 

 are not at present clear, but probably I shall know 

 in time. Meanwhile, I have Maria for a winter com- 

 panion, and a mystery to solve and puzzle about; is 

 not this truly feminine bliss? 



