“Oh! no, indeed; I must protest against any such idea. A superior performer!⁠—very far from it, I assure you. Consider from how partial a quarter your information came. I am dotingly fond of music⁠—passionately fond;⁠—and my friends say I am not entirely devoid of taste; but as to anything else, upon my honour my performance is mediocre to the last degree. You, Miss Woodhouse, I well know, play delightfully. I assure you it has been the greatest satisfaction, comfort, and delight to me, to hear what a musical society I am got into. I absolutely cannot do without music. It is a necessary of life to me; and having always been used to a very musical society, both at Maple Grove and in Bath, it would have been a most serious sacrifice. I honestly said as much to Mr. E. when he was speaking of my future home, and expressing his fears lest the retirement of it should be disagreeable; and the inferiority of the house too⁠—knowing what I had been accustomed to⁠—of course he was not wholly without apprehension. When he was speaking of it in that way, I honestly said that the world