DEAR NELL,—We seem to have settled down to a quietly regular home-life, which really is very pleasant. When I think of the vile March winds which you are now enduring, and contrast them with our lovely mornings and evenings, when every breath is balm, I have only one exceeding longing, which is that you were here to share their luxury. Now that everything is well established, the house moves like a clock, of which Abbey and his wife are the mainspring. They have trained a set of Fijians to wait at table really admirably; they move gracefully and quickly, and look exceedingly handsome in a uniform Lady Gordon has devised. Simply a white kilt and shirt, trimmed with crimson, with short sleeves and square-cut neck, to show a large boar’s tooth against the clear brown throat. Then Sir Arthur has imported a Hindoo cook, and two excellent Hindoo valets, who are also upper housemaids. The rest of the household includes labour-boys of every colour and nation. We adhere to regular English hours—that is to say, coffee is brought to our rooms at seven A.M., and breakfast follows about nine; luncheon at one, tea at five, dinner soon after seven. There is no particular reason for having it later, as it is always dark by six. I must tell you of one triumph of common-sense in the adoption, by Sir Arthur and all his staff, of what we call the Nasova uniform—namely, dispensing with the misery of a coat, and substituting a bright-coloured silken waist-sash for braces: now all the gentlemen look fresh and cool. It is a very sad evening when first a new man-of-war comes in, especially one of some foreign nation, and the presence of punctilious strangers involves full dress. But as soon as ever friendly relations are established, they, too, are privileged to adopt this comfortable costume, greatly to their own satisfaction. At present H.M.S. Nymphe and H.M.S. Sapphire are both in harbour. Our cousin, Captain Grant Suttie, commands the former, and Mr Gordon’s brother, Cosmo, is her first lieutenant. Captain Murray commands the Sapphire, and prides himself, as well he may, on the perfection of her every detail. His own cabins are exquisitely dainty in every respect; and Jack and Nevil are devoted to the lovely silky spaniels which are his inseparable companions. Their own particular little black-and-tan terrier Snip, has a child almost as big as itself, by name Bones. It has attached itself to me; and now the family is further increased by a fat and sportive puppy, of which Bones stands in great awe.