10
LETTER II.
(TWO MONTHS LATER.)
ON TOUCH, TONE, AND THE MODE OF TREATING THE
PIANOFORTE.
My dear Miss,
I have just received your welcome letter, and learn from it that you have already made a notable progress in reading the notes, and that you are able to play several of the first and easiest little pieces, somewhat slowly perhaps, but still intelligibly.
Continue daily to decypher a couple of new little pieces, and at the same time to practise still more those which you have already learned, so that these latter ones may go off quicker and quicker, and that you may each week study at least two fresh pieces. For, as you have an earnest wish to attain to a high degree of excellence in pianoforte-playing, you must look upon all that has been given to you as yet, only as a means to that end, and, indeed, as that means which will conduct to this end as quickly and as agreeably as possible.
I could not refrain from laughing a little, if I may be allowed to tell you so, at your com-
