My dear dear boy,

I am afraid this will be a very dull letter, for having been out driving all the afternoon, I am desperately sleepy, yet it is too early to go to bed and Mary went to Toronto by boat so we are expecting her every minute. This afternoon I met Mrs. Fletcher at our gate so we walked downtown together and Charlie Murray caught sight of us and said it was a lovely day for a drive, so he called a cab and sent us off, Hilda met us & we took her and afterwards picked up poor Mrs. Robb and drove round for nearly three hours. We have had lovely weather this week.

To-day I have had men repairing our stone steps, the stone had sunk in and separated so that the grass grew up badly. I am wondering if your landlady has got any coal. Isn't this coal strike a fearful thing? Such conflicting accounts one scarcely knows which side is right. We have got five tons of furnace coal and a ton of mixed for the kitchen, but Capt. Fairgrieve says he will try & send me another ton for the kitchen then we have some soft, so we hope this will last till strike ends. What the poor & sick are going to do, it is hard to say. Everything is high in price this year. Well, my dear, we will have a good talk when you come, so excuse this short letter.

I half thought Mrs. Trigge might call, when she was up at the wedding, but she did not, so I suppose she is highly indignant. Did you see the list of Trigges in attendance in the Times tea-table gossip? It was quite funny. M.[Mary] has come home safe & sound. It is fearfully windy, I hope it is not going to be cold. Very glad to hear you had determined not to be imposed on. With much love, hoping to see you Wednesday, but can have no turkey, they are a failure.

Your loving Mother

M.B. McQuesten