] I also loved Laura's ravings after Edward died - that whole scene would be really fun to act out.

I love that whole scene, talk about Acting! And this bit:

"I see a Leg of Mutton -- They told me Edward was not Dead; but they deceived me -- they took him for a Cucumber --" (Letter 13)

I wondered if this was a take off on Ophelia's mad scene from Hamlet? Instead of non-sequiters on flowers and herbs, Laura's mad speech talks of foods - mutton and cucumbers of all things. That cucumber line just slays me, it just comes out of nowhere.