the portrait has arrived, and repeats the original to a perfection that is astonishing. it seems to me that the work on it is even finer than that on the original if possible.

thereⒶemendation is but one other picture in the house that is equally satisfactory. there are two or three excellent pictures in the house, but none that i could not manage to get along without, at a pinch, except this one other. but i will tell you all about it when you come, and you may judge the portrait for yourself. i have forgotten what i was to be al[l]owed to pay for it, but was confidently expecting osgood to be able to tell me; but his memory proves as treacherous as mine; says he cannot call the sum to mind. i ought to be ashamed, but i never remember anything whatever except humiliation. if by some lucky chance there had been humiliation mixed in, i could remember every detail of that day for a thousand years.

you must help me with your memory now, and i will hold myself under obligation to you forever.

meantime i beg you to tell mrs. cox how delighted we all are with her work, but don’t let her find out that i have forgotten anything. with you to help me i can get that matter straight.

warner is home now, twichell is home, we are all at home; and are hoping you will come up as soon as you can.