'I'm afraid I have not been doing very much.

Perhaps this is a fallow time with me; I may be gaining strength for great achievements.

Unfortunately, I have a lazy companion.

Miss Steinfeld (you know her from my last letter, if you got it) only pretends to work.

I like her for her thorough goodness and her intelligence; but she is just a little _melancholisch_, and so not exactly the companion I need.