Contents

PART ONE

The Cob House. 1864

Beauty’s Coat

The Orchard Run

The Tea Box from China

Among the White Stones

The Preservation

The Line

Bargains

D’Erlanger’s Hotel

PART TWO

The Riser

A Neat and Tidy Room

The Torn Painting

Dead Work

The Road to the Taramakau

‘A man’s precious name’

The White Worm

The Forest under the Earth

Distance

PART THREE

Towards the Fall

The Power of Dreams

Between Two Worlds

The Fresh

Bellbird Singing

An Acre of Land

Paak Mei’s Laughter

Houses of Wood

Acknowledgements