Whanganui 30th September 1850 My dear Susan Fearing I should incur your ladyship's displeasure I have come home earlier from the mess tonight than usual so you must not scold me when I go to Wellington for having come up here as duty obliged me to do so. Thursday next I intend to add a few more stitches in "Penelope's Web" by setting off the Turakina boundary line to meet the Rangitikei one so that in future you will not have to blame me for delaying too long in this part of the country whatever I may do in other places. Had you seen me on Friday night wandering in the bush with my poor horse in a dark night till two in the morning you would be of a more forgiving disposition than I can expect from you till you are trained to the difficulties of a bush life. I often thought during the night as I was wandering with my guide who had lost his bearings what would Susan say if she was with me. She would certainly witness the hoar frost on my coat and cap which might cool her frolics until she got me home when she might probably usurp her place or convince me most sensibly that she would not submit to such exposure a second time for the Queen's Interpreter Commissioner or anything better or worse that the world may choose to call him. I have been looking over my things tonight Susan as they are all in dreadful bad order. Actually there is scarcely a single button on my shirts and this has quite put me out of temper as I hate to be bothering with pins. You must put things to rights for me when I go to Wellington. In a day or two I will write you again by the "Gov Grey". Do forgive my going to bed tonight and believe me to remain Always your very afft Donald McLean I am expecting, according to promise, a long letter from you by next mail. Your last was too short pussy. Your fingers surely were not so cold that you could not write the dictates of a warm heart.