Dalmuir Hill November 25th 1850 My dear Mr McLean As you say that you are to be detained a few days on the coast I shall write to you by the mail as it is possible that you may receive my letter before you leave Manawatu. What a lonely disagreeable hike you must have had on Monday night. Mr Wait told me that it was about 10 o'clock when you left Kai warra. I think you should not have gone that night as it was so late and as you were obliged to go alone. Did you receive my note and the gloves? I was very much disappointed the day you went away. When I saw you coming down the hill with Papa I thought that you were coming to see us again. I went into the house to tell Mama and when I went to the door to meet you I found you were gone. As you appear to hear everything which happens in Wellington I suppose you had heard of the ball given by the officers at the Mess House on Friday last to which Papa, Mama and I went. At first we had determined not to go as we had fixed that day to start on our expedition up the coast but we found that Mrs Hickson had made up her mind to wait for the ball so we were obliged to give up all thoughts of going that day. I felt very much annoyed and I was still more so when Papa came home on Friday and told me that he had a note from you and that you would be detained a few days at Waikanae. It was so vexing to think that but for the ball I should most likely have seen you again. It put me in quite a bad humour. I did not enjoy the ball for besides being disappointed I had a very severe headache. A great many observed that I was not in good spirits and I think that they attributed it to your absence. Mr Park said as I was coming away that he was very sorry for my sake that Donald was not there. If tomorrow is fine we are going to start on our excursion. Mrs Sharp has not yet made up her mind whether she will go or not. If she does not Miss Kelly will go. I hope we shall have good weather. I think it is sure to be fine. This is such a beautiful morning. I must not conclude as I have got a number of preparations to make for tomorrow so you must forgive me dearest for writing such a short letter. Mama desires me to give her kindest regards. Goodbye my dearest. And believe me to remain ever your affectionate Susan Douglas Strang