9th November

Good Day My Dearest,

I hope this day finds your Humours better balanced and that you no longer suffer from the malaise which set upon you yesterday.  I was grieved, indeed, to have to leave you in The City in such a state!

You may remember that last week I found Hazel no longer capable of performing her duties.  Fortunately, I was able to attend to her myself, and was greatly relieved to avoid the necessity of calling for a specialist.  However, no sooner had she recovered from her first malady than she was beset by another.  I was able to nurse her through the second difficulty as well, though, and this afternoon finds her up and about and back to her work as if nothing had happened.  In fact, I suspect she is performing even better than before she took ill.  Perhaps the disease had been coming on for some time.

I have already accomplished much this fine day!  When I went looking for our gardener, Mr. Ho, he was nowhere to be seen, and so I took on the task of raking and bagging the leaves in the front garden by myself.  It was not an unwelcome diversion, as the sun was shining brightly, and the air both crisp and cool.  After that I found it necessary to assist Xiao Xi, the Laundress, in working through the mountain of laundry that had somehow accumulated.  We have gotten through at least four full cauldrons already and she is stirring the fifth as I write.  Xiao Hong is kept hopping as she dries all that we can turn out.  During all of this, I had taken a moment to assist Daphne with her mathematics when both servants suddenly and simultaneously broke out into two different songs.  How we laughed! (Never fear; they were in the next room and did not hear us!)

Jet is quite well, and has spent the morning and much of the afternoon atop the Lookout Tower.

And I attempted to introduce Wheatley to the joys of freshly laundered towels, but he would have none of it until I left the room.  Seconds later, he was partaking fully of their warmth and no doubt thought that the idea had been all of his own devising.

Of course, the ribbon had to be present as well.

The afghan that I knitted for the Little People will finally go into the shop today.  Pippa was very accommodating in demonstrating it for me.

I do believe that she is appreciative of having her own bed, as well.

Oh, and you shall be receiving another package with some physick preparations and a little surprise.  I am assured that it will arrive on Wednesday, but then, as always, it is up to your Postal Mistress whether you are able to pick it up before Thursday.  I think you shall like what you find inside very much indeed.

I must go now and attend to Xiao Xi and Xiao Hong, but I shall write again tomorrow.  Until then (and always) I am,

Your Loving Mother