I have been sitting too close at my work. I suppose you have left Whanganui long ere this and are getting on in your way to Taranaki. I am sure you will feel it strange to return to the place you so long lived a bachelor. Little did you think the day you left that when you returned you would be a married man. I shall never forget how I hated the name of Taranaki once. That was at the time you had to go up there when you were on your way in to Wellington and then after that the many disappointments I had so often made happy hearing that you were coming in and then hearing you could not leave till at last I began to think I would never see you again. I sometimes wonder how I could allow you to go up without me in case you remain as long as you did before. I can now however do now what I could not then, I can follow you and find out what you are about. What dreadful weather we have. It has