used to be after a serious talk with him: surely that means it is
good? I had to write and tell you, being alone.

I have excellent news of Fanny, who is much better for the change.
My father is still very yellow, and very old, and very weak, but
yesterday he seemed happier, and smiled, and followed what was
said; even laughed, I think. When he came away, he said to me,
'Take care of yourself, my dearie,' which had a strange sound of
childish days, and will not leave my mind.

You must get Litolf's GAVOTTES CELEBRES: I have made another
trover there: a musette of Lully's. The second part of it I have
not yet got the hang of; but the first - only a few bars! The
gavotte is beautiful and pretty hard, I think, and very much of the
period; and at the end of it, this musette enters with the most
really thrilling effect of simple beauty. O - it's first-rate. I
am quite mad over it. If you find other books containing Lully,
Rameau, Martini, please let me know; also you might tell me, you
who know Bach, where the easiest is to be found. I write all
morning, come down, and never leave the piano till about five;
write letters, dine, get down again about eight, and never leave
the piano till I go to bed. This is a fine life. - Yours most
sincerely,

R. L. S.

If you get the musette (Lully's), please tell me if I am right, and
it was probably written for strings. Anyway, it is as neat as - as
neat as Bach - on the piano; or seems so to my ignorance.