ad a longish Letter from Donne, who spoke of himself as well
enough, only living by strict Rule in Diet, Exercise, etc.

We have had some remarkable Alternations of Cold and Hot here too: but
nothing like the extremes you tell me of on the other side of the Page.

Lionel Tennyson (second Son), who answered my half-yearly Letter to his
father, tells me they had heard that Annie Thackeray was well in health,
but--as you may imagine in Spirits.

And I remain yours always
E. F.G.

How is it my Atlantic Monthly is not yet come?

XXXVII.

WOODBRIDGE: _Febr_: 17/76.

DEAR MRS. KEMBLE,

I ought to have written before to apprise you of your Mother's Miniature
being sent off--by Post. On consideration, we judged that to be the
safest and speediest way: the Post Office here telling us that it was not
too large or heavy so to travel: without the Frame. As, however, our
Woodbridge Post Office is not very well-informed, I shall be very glad to
hear it has reached you, in its double case: wood within, and tin without
(quite unordered and unnecessary), which must make you think you receive
a present of Sardines. You lose, you see, the Benefit of my exalted
Taste in respect of Framing, which I had settled to perfection. Pray get
a small Frame, concaving inwardly (Ogee pattern, I believe), which leads
the Eyes into the Picture: whereas a Frame convexing outwardly leads the
Eye away from the Picture; a very good thing in many cases, but not
needed in this. I dare say the Picture (faded as it is) will look poor
to you till enclosed and set off by a proper Frame. And the way is, as
with a Bonnet (on which you know much depends even with the fairest
face), to try one on before ordering it home. That is, if you choose to
indulge in some more ornamental Frame than the quite simple one I have
before named. Indeed, I am not sure if the Picture would not look best
in a plain gold Flat (as it is called) without Ogee, or any ornament
whatsoever. But try it on first: and then you can at least please
yourself, if not the Terrible Modiste who now writes to you. My Brother
is very anxious you should have the Picture, and wrote to me again to
send you his hereditary kind Regards. I ought to be sending you his
Note--which I have lost. Instead of that, I enclose one from poor
Laurence to whom I wrote your kind message; and am as ever

Yours
E. F.G.

You will let me know if the Picture has not arrived before this Note
reac