Dear Pearl,

A snowstorm has blanketed the city, Pearl, and we are completely housebound until the Chivalrous Shovelers Brigade gets to our side of Kew's Conservatory.  You remember Kew's, don't you Pearl?  On our visit there, you were bitten by the Venus Flytrap brought back from the rainforest by Queen Victoria's Second* South American Expedition.  You were so brave when the medics pulled apart the mean little plant's jaws and rinsed the digestive juices off your index finger!  Say, do you still have that little scar?  I hope your weather is better on the other side of the ocean. . .

I Remain, as Always, Your Devoted Miss Blue

*Queen Victoria's First South American Expedition was cut short by an outbreak of scurvy that broke out after the rats ate all the limes stowed on board to prevent said disease.  The news reports at the time noticed that the rats were particularly sleek and peppy when the weak and staggering crew finally made it back to port.