October are the worst months in the year. Mama is very much better. She has gone out two or three times this week. On Thursday she went with Papa to Evan's Bay to see poor Mrs Drummond. I did not think she would have walked so far. I wish Papa would come home often to take her out for she always likes to have him to walk with her. You tell me not to pay any attention to the gossip about us. I assure you I never do. If it is any satisfaction to the people here to talk about us they may do so long as they please. It will never annoy me, on the contrary it is an amusement to hear the different stories they invent. Major Durie dined with us this week. He invited me to spend a short time with Mrs Durie this summer. If you go to the East Coast without coming to see me I think the best way to punish your disobedience would be, when you return to Wellington, to leave you and go and stay