Berlin. Saturday. Dearest Mother. The reason why I had not sent the poems to H. [Heinemann] was because Mr Strong has not yet sent me back the preface - I wrote to him early this week. I hope I may get it by the next bag. Meantime I have sent the 30 poems with their notes to H. and explained to him why the preface is not with them and apologized for the delay. Please tell Papa that Aunt Mary particularly wants him to come here and for my part I hope he will not come later than the 25th as I shall be quite ready to go away by that time! I don't think I can endure to go to the 3rd Court ball - they are such deadly tedious functions - so if only he would carry me off before March 3rd I should be deeply grateful.
It snowed all this morning, but Billy F [Florence] and I skated this afternoon and met several little friends upon the ice. It was quite nice and we were glad to have had a little fresh air. Tonight we go to a ball. Ever your affectionate daughter Gertrude