Mon chere frere You do not know the happiness your letter just received has given me. We understood here that you were coming by the 'Luna' and after all my preparations found that you had steered in another direction but your letter today is almost as great a solace as if you had come. Mrs Maxwell was with me for a week which she was most grateful. Mrs St John is with me as much as the baby will admit. They were all here yesterday. The children dressed like little fairies playing in the orchard. I asked little Ethel the youngest where her papa was. She said he had gone for a walk. Mr Sewell sister was here on Saturday told me what a boon your introductions were to her husband. He was feasted and made off wherever he mentioned your name. He is now in Auckland. I hope he will not have left before you reach. Mrs Tolemache was also here on Saturday told me Douglas spent two hours with Mr T and that he was much improved in looks. Mr Hart is laid up today. Rather a severe attack (of gout). You were most happy in your allusion to Sir James Ferguson. The language made use of was beautiful and appropriate, so true of the man of whom it was said. The rest of the speech reads like an earnest clear statement of unvarnished facts. What an anxious day I spent that Tuesday thinking of you every hour of the day and dreading any hitch that might mar the harmony of the evening with many other sad thoughts combined. The house is being thoroughly repaired thanks to Mr Gill. He is most energetic and understood so well about it. He came here the other day. He seemed as if he could not speak. I wondered if he had heard anything further of Tiffen. This to him is a sore point. I could not in any other way account for it. I feel fagged and uncertain ever since if anything more definite has transpired. I must close as I fear the 'Luna' is going. Annabella McLean Monday morning Nov 23rd [1871] Hobson Street