Letter XIII: Bachelor hospitality.--a gale on shore.


Broomielaw, November 1866.
We have lately made a much longer excursion than those I told you of
last, month, and this time have been fortunate in meeting with fine
weather above all, our expedition has been over perfectly level
ground, and on a good "track," which has greatly increased its
charms in my eyes. A fortnight ago early summer set fairly in, and
some bachelor neighbours took advantage of the change to ride over
to see us, and arrange a plan for the following week. It all fitted
in nicely, for F--- was obliged to go to Christchurch at that time,
and the first idea of the expedition originated in my saying how
dull I was at the station when he was away. I can get on very well
all day; with my various employments--feeding the chickens, taking
the big dogs out for a walk, and so on: but after the house is quiet
and silent for the night, and the servants have gone to bed, a
horrible lonely eerie feeling comes over me; the solitude is so
dreary, and the silence so intense, only broken occasionally by the
wild, melancholy cry of the weka. However, I am very rarely tried
in this way, and when I am it can't be helped, if that is any
consolation.

I forget whether I told you that we left all "evening things," and
other toilette necessaries which would not be wanted up country,
behind us in Christchurch, so as to avoid the trouble of sending any
luggage backwards or forwards. It is necessary to mention this, to
account for the very light marching order in which we travelled. It
was a lovely summer morning on which we left home, meaning to be
away nearly a week, from Monday till Saturday. We were well