I found my friend Mrs. Royal staying there the last time I called. She is quite enthusiastic about Mr. Fennel Payne, and, finding that I sympathize in her enthusiasm, has kindly lent me these extracts, copied from letters which a young friend of hers received from Adeline’s sister, one Miss Vining. They eulogize Fennel Payne, and, at the same time, solve the great knife mystery. EXTRACTS. ... “Pretty scenery, river, meadow, woods beyond. They live up stairs, have one cooking-room, one sitting-room, two sleeping-rooms, with garret privileges, and the right to wash in the sink-room, down below, the second pleasant day after Sunday. Adeline does her own work, and takes care of little Adeline and Buddy, as they call baby. He is--but, as the girl in the book says, there never will be a word invented adequate to describe your sister’s baby. No, there never will. And such a husband as Adeline has got! Oh, I tell you there are not many Fennel Paynes in this world! Oh, they two do take such comfort! Why, the very atmosphere of the house is full of comfort, and you have to breathe it in. “Fennel comes home from work at evening, and settles himself down with an air of intense satisfaction, as if this were for him the only spot in all the world. Sometimes he undresses Buddy, Adeline, meanwhile, stepping about, doing up the work, going sideways so as to keep her eyes on them, and telling over all the cunning things baby and little Adeline have committed during the day. At last baby’s father, after fumbling at the nightgown strings, and tying them in a single bow-knot, covers him over like a cocoon. Then lullaby, hushaby, softly and gently. Fennel’s low tones are wonderfully sweet; and now and then Adeline joins in ‘with sweet accord.’ I tell you ’tis such a perfect taking comfort, it almost brings the tears to my eyes. That baby’s slumbers ought to be sweet, thus watched and tended. But it is so funny to see a man try to glide! In Fennel’s tiptoe performances he seems to be putting himself universally out of joint.... [Illustration]