Dearest Pearl,

Robert Burns' passionate declarations of love and humanity's condition have inspired a sort of poetry fever in Melba, Pearl. She wears ancient flowing gowns from her mother's trunks and manages a cloud of bubbles to appear wherever she sits. Currently she reads from Shakespeare's love sonnets from dawn til dusk: Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate. . . So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long lives this and this gives life to thee.

It would be completely tiresome if the iambic pentameter didn't have a sort of calming effect on all of us. Even Louise. She and Linguini disappear for hours at a time in the still beautiful garden of the deserted Contini estate.I'm happy for them. . .even if it means the beds will not be made with square corners and that dinner will probably involve canned peaches and scrambled eggs. Oh dear, I sound like I'm complaining. Not to worry. I shall put a bright smile upon my face for my little household and show them how brave a soldier I can be. About canned peaches and scrambled eggs, I mean.

I Remain Your Devoted Miss Blue