Dalmuir Hill August 29th 1850 My dear Mr McLean I was happy to hear by your letter of the 24th that my last letter had given you so much satisfaction and that you do not think me neglectful. I am sure that you were not in a very good humour when you wrote by Mr Hickson and you may expect a scold from me when you return for writing such a cross letter. I am sorry to hear that you are still to be detained sometime at Rangitikei. Your work there appears never ending. It reminds me of Penelope's Web. I have not been out since I wrote you on Friday last except to church. I intended to have called for Mrs Eyre this week but Mama has not been well and I did not like to leave her. She has got a dreadful cough. I never saw her have one so bad before and as she never has been subject to coughs it makes me more alarmed. It is always worse at night. Sometimes she appears almost like to suffocate. I thinks she got this cold the Sunday before last. She went to church in the afternoon and it was a cold disagreeable day. I think she is a little better today. I endeavoured to persuade her to take a walk this morning but I did not succeed. I am sure it would have done her a great deal of good. It is reported that Sir George Grey is coming to Wellington soon. I have not heard whether Lady Grey is to accompany him or not. I suppose if she does we shall have some more balls. I hope when Sir George comes that he will not send you off somewhere. If he does I shall never forgive him as he kept you away so long once before when he was at Taranaki. Mama sends her kindest regards and she desires me to say that she received your letter with much pleasure which she will answer by the next mail. She is very much obliged to you for the hams. They seem in excellent order and she thinks the mat very pretty. I must now conclude as Dr Forbes and Dr Lyle are coming to dinner and I have something to do so I hope you will excuse this short letter. Goodbye dear And believe me to remain Ever your affectionate Susan Douglas Strang Saturday night I had not long finished writing to you yesterday when Papa came home bringing me another letter from you which I was delighted to receive. Your letters always give me the greatest pleasure and they prevent me from feeling your absence so much as I would do were I not to hear from you so frequently. I intend to keep all your letters and if we live it may amuse us many years after this to read them and they will bring past days to or remembrances but I think I am foolish to tell you this for I am sure you will laugh at it and say that it is a childish whim. You must not fear that Papa will complain that we are giving him trouble with our correspondence. He is too kind and too fond of you to grumble about it. I called today with Mrs Hickson at Government House. I did not intend to call till next week as I thought by that time Mama would be able to go but Papa told me yesterday that the Governor and Mrs Eyre were going to Nelson on Monday in the Acheron and it would not have been right to put off my visit till her return. I am very unwilling to conclude but I must do so as I am sure it must be now Sunday morning. Everyone is in bed and asleep but myself. You will think me very unkind in writing such a short letter but you must forgive me as I have been very busy for the last two days. I shall endeavour to make up for it by writing a longer one next mail. Goodnight dear and believe me to remain Ever your affectionate Susan Douglas Strang