When you write that you have a legal case requiring 'research' I admit that sounds quite thrilling, but perhaps only because I have so little practical experience of the law in any regard — my oldest brother assures me it is entirely dull. I do hold out some slight hope still that you will refute this in your next letter and tell me you have been finding ancient documents or uncovering hidden secrets never before known or that sort of thing. Or, if you cannot, then tell me about the romance in the Gondoliers. You describe it as 'excellent' in your last letter, and I admit that I am often a fan of the romances depicted in operas and in novels. They are, in my limited experience, usually more interesting than the ones in the real world... One of my friends has gotten engaged this season and the most she can say about the man she is to marry is that he is 'suitably handsome, with good prospects, and a pleasant voice'; none of these are bad things to have, of course, but it all seems so terribly mundane. In plays people sometimes rescue each other from convoluted plots, or make grand declarations, or at the very least meet in interesting ways — real life so often has none of these traits.

The news here lately has been rather dreadful and morbid. I'm not sure whether you had heard anything about it while abroad? Some people have died, and one recently in a most gruesome and spectacular fashion, and some people are saying there is some sort of conspiracy... I am not sure whether anything has been proved in that regard but it has quite spooked my mother who now hardly lets me leave the house except for events. I haven't been out to a shop in practically a month! Which has given me not much opportunity for cultural events of any sort, and rather too much opportunity for reading and needlework. I am running out of things to embroider, honestly. I hope the whole business is settled soon so things can return to normal.

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