FL4651376

Answered 20th Feby

8th January 1897

Cotmandene
South Yarra.
Melbourne

My dear Mrs Onslow

Very many thanks for your kind
letter of the 4th. As your period for
migration seems to be at hand, and
there is no knowing how soon you
may flit, I think it best to answer at
once, lest my letter should reach
Camden after the nest is empty.

It is funny that from Alec at Perth and
from you at Camden I should receive
congratulations on being well enough to
play billards at the Melbourne Club – the
fact being that I have never played there
for some 16 years. But young Ainsley
seeing me smoking a pipe in the billiard
room there, jumped to the conclusion that
I was a player – not unnaturally perhaps,
but if he is going to be a lawyer he
must beware of hasty inferences.

However, I am fortunately well enough
to play billiards at my own house
when a friend drops in, though I fear
that I am not well enough to travel
away from my own house for even a night.