[ Mary is a creature who has craved praise her entire life like a man dying of thirst and to hear it given so readily now when everyone else is preoccupied with Kitty causes a smile to light up her face. There are no thoughts about acting humble or trying to restrain her happiness. She knows she's worked hard but unlike those times in the past when she did the same, she actually enjoyed the experience instead of treating it as a test to prove her worth. ]

I will always welcome the performance of a duet with you, but I give you leave to remain in the audience next time.

[ Is this... wit? Coming from Mary? Surely it must be a fluke. But responding in this manner gives her a little thrill all the same. ]

Now that our performance is over, I shall return to studying the other pieces you gifted to me.