Feb 14th

Alas the day has passed without the looked for letters. The end of the week will doubtless bring them. This morning after breakfast I lanced old Frank’s leg he bore it without moving a muscle and has had marked relief from it. He is quite happy now. The day has been very fine tho’ a little cold. The back bone of the winter is pretty well broken. I have had a good many Indians in my room today, some to talk and some to sketch + others because I could not help them coming in. One was a very fine looking fellow over six feet tall + broad + sinewy, he was very much pleased with my sketch of him + promised to bring me a buffalo robe for it, not because I gave it to him but because he felt flattered. At first I had no intention of giving it to him but afterward I did, and he went away excessively pleased. This evening after dinner while we were sitting around the Mess fire, we heard a great noise of the Indians + going out found they were having a dance at Conrad’s. We went to see them but such a crowd went in that they could not dance + they all went off in a huff. I expect that you were quietly in church just then. I wonder what you are doing now, 10 o’clock? It must be about 12 in Toronto, so I suppose you are sleeping soundly. Dear Dear Lizzie, I do so want to see you again. I am getting awfully tired out here by myself. I wish I could bring you out here, but that would hardly be fair. Anyway, it is useless to wish impossibilities, so that is our end of it. The Mail will tell me something about you + make you feel nearer. Good night.

Jany. 5th.

To day has been very clear + very cold. The usual daily round of the Hospital. In the evening after dinner we had a big dance in the Mess Room. One of our Mess men plays on the Concertina + sleeps in the kitchen – we wakened him up and made him play for us. We began with a “Walk Round” then had a set of Quadrilles, + then varied the proceedings with waltzes and gallops - + schottisches [?] We had very good fun. If it may be allowed, without being called conceited, I will say that I was the Belle of the Ball. I was the only one who could dance “Lady” with anything like decency, and consequently my hand was sought after. As soon as we stopped a second claimed my hand. Of course I felt highly flattered. I too was the only one who could dance the Boston – (by the by, I am glad to hear that you have learnt it) I waltzed around, by my lone, to the great edification of the onlookers, in the graceful images of that seraphic step, now sailing grandly forwards, then careering joyfully backwards. They no sooner said, “Now I have it”, then by reversing I again threw them into a stack of bewilderment bordering on lunacy. That would have been fine if only I could have a waltz with you again. It is late and I must say Good night + Pleasant dreams.