What, you would not allow a self-professed cynic their moment of doubt? No, I assure you I had no intentions of dismissing you so swiftly, after all the effort you went to in writing to me – rather, I recently found myself in peculiar circumstances where writing letters of any kind was hardly on my mind. It ought not happen again, though – or at least I should hope it does not. (Does that make me sound quite mysterious, or is it too much of a clue?)

I do not even deal so much in society as some women my age, but I simply do not have the patience for it alone – but of course there is the opposing fear for us, in that no one expects much of worth from a woman after twenty-four or so – twenty-seven, at a stretch – which makes me wonder if I have wasted my most ‘valuable’ years on the wrong things.

I am relieved to hear there is some similarity of feeling amongst your sisters. My own sister – younger than me, and newly out – seems quite delighted by all of society, so I do not like to dampen her feelings; but I am glad I am not entirely alone.

Contrarianism, you say? Tell me more about that. Do you or your relatives possess any other particularly unpopular opinions – or do you often find yourself at odds with them?

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