Dalmuir Hill October 12th 1850 My dear Mr McLean You were quite right in remarking that your letter by the last mail was cross. When I read it I felt sure that you had not been in the best of tempers at the time you wrote. I shall not scold, however as the letter I received yesterday made up for it. Papa tells me that as you are going into the bush you may not have an opportunity of writing again for sometime. I am sorry to hear it for the days appear to me to pass so slowly when I do not receive a letter from you every week. I wish those tiresome boundaries were finished. In my last letter I told you I was very anxious that you should come in before going to the East Coast. I should indeed like to see you very much but if you think it would suit you better to go there first, do not to please me [permit] yourself to any inconvenience. I shall never dear, either now or at any future time, ask you to do what is not quite agreeable to you. I was at tea last night at the minister's. There were only the Miss Pauls and Miss Redish there. Papa and Mama did not go, for you know they do not like to be out at night. I did not spend such a happy evening as I did the last time I was at Mrs Kirton's, for you were with me there, and no party, however pleasant seems so to me when you are not there. You appear to think that I have again got into my old lazy habits because I had been late of rising for two or three mornings, but you are quite mistaken. I have got up early every morning this week. I have seldom been later than half past [text missing]. You need not fear that I will again get [into] a habit so injurious to the health and which causes also so much waste of time. You wish to know what progress I have made with "Rollin". When I had finished the second volume I found that the next three had been taken away by some person, which is very annoying as I have not been able to find out who has got them and I shall be obliged to begin at the sixth volume. It is too bad of people to take books without telling us. There are a great many which we miss and there is little chance of them being found as we have not the least idea who has got them. I suppose you think I am never going to make your watch guard. I went to every shop to enquire for braid but I could not find it. Miss Kelly promised to come this week to teach me to make one of silk, but she has been busy and could not come. I must now bid you good bye. May every blessing attend you my and believe me to remain ever your affectionate Susan Douglas Strang