X。
IgobacktothathouseinHartford，whereIwassooftenahappyguest，withtendernessforeachofitsendearingaspects。Overthechimneyinthelibrarywhichhadbeencuredofsmokingbysomuchartandscience，ClemenshadwritteninperennialbrassthewordsofEmerson，\"Theornamentofahouseisthefriendswhofrequentit，\"andhegavehisguestsawelcomeofthesimplestandsweetestcordiality：butImustnotgoasidetothemfrommyrecollectionsofhim，whichwillbeofsufficientgarrulity，ifIgivethemasfullyasIwish。Thewindowsofthelibrarylookednorthwardfromthehillsideabovewhichthehousestood，andoverthelittlevalleywiththestreaminit，andtheyshowedtheleavesofthetreesthatalmostbrushedthemasinaClaudeLorraineglass。Totheeastwardthedining—roomopenedamply，andtothesouththerewasawidehall，wherethevoicesoffriendsmadethemselvesheardastheyenteredwithoutceremonyandansweredhisjoyoushail。AtthewestwasalittlesemicircularconservatoryofapatterninventedbyMrs。
HarrietBeecherStowe，andadoptedinmostofthehousesofherkindlyneighborhood。Theplantsweresetintheground，andthefloweringvinesclimbedupthesidesandoverhungtheroofabovethesilentsprayofafountaincompaniedbycallasandotherwater—lovinglilies。There，whilewebreakfasted，Patrickcameinfromthebarnandsprinkledtheprettybower，whichpouredoutitsresponsiveperfumeinthedelicateaccentsofitsvariedblossoms。BreakfastwasClemens’sbestmeal，andhesatlongerathissteakandcoffeethanatthecoursesofhisdinner；
luncheonwasnothingtohim，unless，asmighthappen，hemadeithisdinner，andreservedthelaterrepastastheoccasionofwalkingupanddowntheroom，anddiscoursingatlargeonanythingthatcameintohishead。Likemostgoodtalkers，helikedotherpeopletohavetheirsay；
hedidnottalkthemdown；hestoppedinstantlyatanother’sremarkandgladlyorpolitelyheardhimthrough；heevenmadebelievetofindsuggestionorinspirationinwhatwassaid。Hischildrencametothetable，asIhavetold，andafterdinnerhewasapttojoinhisfinetenortotheirtreblesinsinging。