Do you enjoy the career on which you have entered ?" "I should enjoy it if the audience were all my personal friends," answered she.

"But I have lived such a very retired life, that I cannot easily become accustomed to publicity; and there is something I cannot exactly define, that troubles me with regard to operas.

If I could perform only in pure and noble characters, I think it would inspire me; for then I should represent what I at least wish to be; but it affects me like a discord to imagine myself in positions which in reality I should scorn and detest." "I am not surprised to hear you express this feeling," responded he.
"I had supposed it must be so.

It seems to me the _libretti_ of operas are generally singularly ill conceived, both morally and artistically.
Music is in itself so pure and heavenly, that it seems a desecration to make it the expression of vile incidents and vapid words.

But is the feeling of which you speak sufficiently strong to induce you to retire from the brilliant career now opening before you, and devote yourself to concert-singing ?" "There is one thing that makes me hesitate," rejoined she.