Mon chere frere Was glad to get your last letter. I do not know how it is but it seems you are ever calm and unruffled under all circumstances even your very letters impart an antidote of comfort when all else seems to fail. Kinross will be glad to have you and it is better that you should remain removed from all scenes of sadness and regret to have known Alick and not regret him was impossible. Matters here are just as you left them. MacNab was pruning the vine the other day. The two servants are still here but leaving on Monday. You are so uncertain of your movements that I do not feel justified to keep two women any longer. Little Miss McLean from Auckland is staying with me. I suppose Douglas is with Mr Condie. This holiday will do him great good. It is very wet here. I hope it is not so with you at this busy time. Wellington wonderfully still and quiet at present. The Gov's yacht has arrived and followed him to Lyttelton. The fowls are thriving at a great rate. Those from Mason are beauties, truly handsome birds but the rats are troublesome to the chickens. Faithful little Tiny is even on the door mat watching every movement. I am trying to get a canary that its cheerful notes may brighten up the house. Kate is very kind. Hart not so well with gout. Good kind Mr Tollemache has been here several times. Some how he appears pleased at Douglas being in Napier. I suppose it is that Mr Tollemache enjoys having him about him. Kate tells me Mr Hart misses him from the office but the change is essential to him. In the meantime thanks for enclosure in last letter. Economical as I may be something always comes to extra money. Yours Annabella Saturday morning [sometime after 1 Nov 1873]