The Singing Lesson by Katherine Mansfield

Miss Meadows, a school music teacher, begins her day in a state of despair after receiving a troubling letter from her fiancé. Her mood infects her teaching, and she lashes out at her students during a singing lesson. But just as her gloom seems to peak, a second letter arrives, changing everything. The plot turns on emotional reversals and the fragile dependence of happiness on others’ words. It’s a brilliant exploration of performance, vulnerability, and the masks we wear.