pli's highly successful management of the cuisine and his patient devotion to domestic affairs, I at times felt lonely, and on more than one occasion the idea of choosing a partner from the young ladies of Neuroomia entered my brain, for I was now fairly settled, and loved my rural home. My comparatively large house had a sound of emptiness about it that I did not at first appreciate, after being accustomed to so much company. However, I got used to it, but still missed my old acquaintances, for hitherto I had no visitors, doubtless owing to the fact that my friends conjectured I was busy over my literary work. I paid a visit to my nearest neighbour, Mitlinnimi, who had a grown-up family of one son and two daughters. The son had left them, and was settled on a place of his own, but the girls still lived with their parents, and as I found them to be agreeable and cheerful, I afterwards spent many pleasant hours in the company of the young ladies. I kept up a correspondence with Alvarez, Vandalia, Delemia, and a few others.
With regard to matrimonial affairs, I was not yet quite prepared to take the step, but the time would come, etc., etc. I had a lot of work before me, and I knew that when I once got fairly into
