Springfield House Lasswade nr Edinr March 10th 59 My dear Donald I am just going to write you but a short letter as I think that Annabella is writing you by this mail. You would find by her last letter that she had to leave school and come here to attend upon me when laid up with a severe attack of rheumatism but with God's blessing I soon got better & able to go about though I am far from strong yet. I have been anxiously looking for a letter from you for some time back for I am in a fix about Anna. She is still a[t] the school & I am so unwilling to take her away and my dear D I am not able to meet her demands. Her last yr is due & so is this one but I trust that we shall soon hear from you but on the other hand I much fear that we are drawing too much on your generosity for I know that dear Archy stood in need of your help and it is most gratifying for us to hear that you have so noblely befriended him. I look forward with great pleasure to the time that in God's good providence we may all meet and make a happy home yet. In Archy's last letter to Catherine he mentioned that John had taken up house in Auckland. I do hope that his wife is a worthy & that you shall like her. I am so grieved that A's wife is not with him for she would be an unspeakable comfort to them. You say but very little of your darling boy in yr letters but I hope that he is getting on well. Flora Ann & her little girl are quite well & so is Mr Conway. He is a kind good man. When I was ill he offered to come and take me to stay with them but dear Lady B would not hear of it. Indeed she was quite angry at such a proposal. I have no Highland news to give you only that I had a letter from Aunt Ann last week & they were all well. I hope that our cousin Mrs Gas. is well. She writes home that you are so kind to her. May God bless you my own dear brother is ever the prayer of yr attached sister Catherine