XVII 

 THE INS AND OUTS OF THE MATTER 



CHRONICLED by the rays of light and sound waves 

 upon the walls of the house at Opal Farm. 



PEOPLE INVOLVED 



The Man from Everywhere, keeping bachelor's hall in the 

 eastern half of the farm home. 



Amos Opie, living in the western half of the house, the sepa- 

 rating door being locked on his side. 



Maria Maxwell, who, upon hearing Opie is again ill, has 

 dropped in to give him hot soup and medicine. 



Amos Opie was more than usually uncomfortable 

 this particular September evening. It may have been 

 either a rather sudden change in the weather or the 

 fact that now that he was sufficiently well to get about 

 the kitchen and sit in the well- house porch, of a sunny 

 morning, Maria Maxwell had given up the habit of 

 running over several times a day to give him his medi- 

 cine and be sure that the kettle boiled and his tea was 

 freshly drawn, instead of being what she called "stewed 

 bitterness" that had stood on the leaves all day. 

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