Dalmuir Hill Monday August 5th [1852] My own dearest Donald I received your letter on Saturday by the overland mail quite unexpectedly as I did not look forward to the pleasure of hearing from my old plague till the arrival of some vessel. I was dreadfully disappointed to hear by your letter to Papa that you could not leave Taranaki for some weeks. How I hate the name of that horrid place. I am sure it has caused me more vexation and annoyance than I can tell. Nothing in the world ever persuade me to go there. It is really dreadful to think that you are to be away so long. I have now given up all hopes of seeing you before my troubles begin. What to do I know not. I dread to think of it. The idea of it made me quite ill on Saturday. To make things worse Mrs Kirton's servant is going to leave and she