[August 1852] Dalmuir Hill My dearest Donald Although I am very tired I cannot go to bed without writing to my old plague of a husband. I was too tired last night to write as I had been tormented the whole evening with that plague Mrs Robertson. She and the Doctor came up as I was sitting in my bedroom comfortably by a good fire. Papa had gone to bed as he did not feel well so I had them all to myself. Unfortunately Ellen had gone to spend the evening at Mrs Gold's. If she had been at home it would not have been quite so bad. As usual Shemty was with them and she makes a point of touching everything in the room. The last time they were up she scratched