I hope you will not find it too bold of me to save you the trouble; I've enclosed a copy of the sheet music for it here. Perhaps that is presumptuous of me but it is an easy gift to make for someone with friends in the music industry; it took hardly any time to find. And there could be no better use of one's time confined at home in mourning than perfecting a new piece of music. Music is a salve to the soul; if you do decide to learn it I'm sure the performance will benefit your household's spirits as much as the occupation might lift your own.

I confess that of all the possible social events balls have never been my particular favorite. The enjoyment of the evening depends so heavily on finding a good partner, and as a host I prefer to take a more active role in the construction of the evening's experience in order to ensure my guests are entertained. But perhaps there is something to your comment about your mother's poise — I have, after all, been lacking a hostess. Perhaps that is the secret to a truly enjoyable ball, which I've been missing before now.

I wouldn't say that I always knew what I wanted. My father chose the profession for me, thinking I might benefit from time spent abroad. Perhaps it was luck that I took to it so readily or perhaps it was inevitable; who can spend so much time traveling and not acquire a taste for it?

Have you been abroad much, Miss? Excepting, of course, the recent cruise, which I would not wish to force your thoughts to.

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