"out" at last, for now I can go to everything that comes on. And do as
I please, that is if I want to, because I may marry soon! I wish I
could see your expression when you read that. Of course it is Lord
----. He proposed last night, but I told him he must wait, and propose
again in a couple of weeks. I wasn't ready to decide yet. I must be
free "out" for a couple of weeks at least.

He will be Duke of ----, some day. As the Duchess I shall have
precedence over Mamie Smith, Gertrude Strong, and Irene van Worth, and
even over all the older women who have married abroad, except the
Duchesses of ---- and ----. Think what fun it would be to sail in
everywhere ahead of Mamie Smith, after all the insufferable airs she
has put on! I don't believe I could make a better match. Besides he's
youngish and good-looking, has splendid estates, and I really like him.
I mean I think he is the sort of man you can get very romantic about.
And of course there's no real social life anywhere but abroad, and
there's no other life that wouldn't bore me to death. It's only
natural, for my whole childhood was spent in an atmosphere of searching
after it. Ever since I can remember the chief occupation and interest
of mama was how diplomatically to get into the smartest set with
dignity. It seemed as difficult as the proverbial camel and eye of a
needle and the rich man getting into heaven, and in my younger days the
three were all very much mixed up together in my mind. I think I should
prefer London to Paris. Smart life in Paris seems to be so very much
more immoral than in London, judging from what one hears and the books
one reads, and you know I don't care about immorality. I get that from
mama, too. She is shocked all the time in the "world," over here even,
tho' she tries to hide it.

Our house looked lovely last night. We had powdered footmen, and just
enough music and just enough supper and just enough people. One of the
secrets of success in society is not to overcrowd anything.

Of course there were some drawbacks to the ball, but small things that
didn't really count. Mary Farnham came and sat the whole evening thro',
as usual, without once dancing. Even papa said he "drew the line at
that." Why doesn't she take something? You see lots of things
advertised that change people almost as big as she into a perfect
shadow in no time. You feel so sorry for her when she's your guest. I
had a great mind to put Lord ---- to the test, but I