F. Liszt
November 24th, 1839, in bed
23. To Clara Wieck
[The great pianist, afterwards Schumann's wife.]
Pest, December 25th, 1839
How grateful I am, Mademoiselle, for the kind remembrance you keep of me! And how much I am already rejoicing at the thought of seeing you and hearing you again soon in Leipzig! I was so vexed not to be in Paris last winter when I knew you were going to spend some time there. Perhaps I should have been able to be of some little use to you there. You know that, at all times and in every country, I shall always be at your service. I should become too lengthy if I allowed myself to reply in detail to your kind questions about my new compositions. I worked immensely hard in Italy. Without exaggeration I think I have written four to five hundred pages of pianoforte music. If you have patience to hear half a quarter of them I shall be delighted to play them to you, so so.
The "Studies after Paganini," which are dedicated to you, will only appear in two months' time; but I will bring you the proofs, which have long been corrected, to Leipzig.
Once more many thanks, and many tender and respectful wishes for everything that can contribute to your happiness. And above all a bientot.
Yours in admiration and sympathy,
F. Liszt