My very dear Donald Many thanks for yr kind letter and for yr kind consideration in giving me the first offer of the cottage. You know that being near "you" is a very great inducement to me indeed nothing would tempt me to go far away. Mr Gray is going down to see you and do my dear D manage this business for me for I have no mind of my own in the matter. I leave it all to you. Mr Gray I regard with feelings of respect for I know that he is an upright just good man and I think would be kind to me. But I think him wanting in energy and I fear would be contented with small things which is not all together to my mind but perhaps it is folly in me to give way to these feelings for I daresay Mr Gray is superior to me in many respects. Today he told me that I must be off or on, and be candid with him. At the same time he said that he felt quite sure that my family was against it, and that I was to tell him if such was the case. I told him that it was as they did not see that he had a home to take me to. In conclution I told him to go down and see you and if you and he came to an understanding with regard to the cottage and if he got a situation to add to his present income that I thought I would agree to it. So ends this part of my epistal. I am thankful to tell you that Alex is keeping quite sober and attending to his work. He does not at all behave well to Gray. He is very impish to him. Mr G did offer to keep the amount in the shearing but I don't think Alex cares about it but I think you should ask G to do it for you may reley on them being well kept. It is likely that I may go down as Alex says that he can not come home at nights during the shearing and if Mr Gray is up I don't care about being alone. Mrs Kinross is coming up on Tuesday to see me. Archy was home yesterday by breakfast time. His place is looking remarkably well. He is certainly a most industrious man. I am suffering dreadfully from my back and weakness. I do not know sometimes what to do with myself. Give my love to Annabella. I will write her tomorrow by Mr Weber and my dear Dones I know that you will do all for the best & consequently I leave all to you. I am ever affectionately yours CatherineDoon Side Friday