essively
hot. She asked where I had been, and about our living at Hawarden,
and where it was. I told her I thought she had been there, at
least driving through from Eaton (was it not so?) when she was
Princess, and at last she seemed to remember it, and said it was
thirty-one years ago. Princess Alice has got a black boy here who
was given to her, and he produces a great sensation on the
Deeside, where the people never saw anything of the kind and
cannot conceive it. A woman, and an intelligent one, cried out in
amazement on seeing him, and said she would certainly have fallen
down but for the Queen's presence. She said nothing would induce
her to wash his clothes _as the black would come off_! This story
the Queen told me in good spirits.

She said that some people after heavy bereavement disliked seeing
those whom they had known well before, and who reminded them of
what had been, but with her it was exactly the opposite; it was
the greatest effort and pain to her to see any one who had [not]
known _them_ before, and their mode of living. As an instance, she
said it cost her much to see the Emperor of Austria, whom the
Prince had never known. Evidently this clinging to things old will
form itself into a habit, but I am afraid it may hereafter, when
more have died off, be a matter of difficulty to her. It is
impossible to help seeing that she mistrusts Lord Russell's
judgment in foreign affairs, indeed I have already had clear proof
of this. She likes Lord Palmerston's better; thinks he looks very
old, and will not allow that it is all owing to an accident. But
dinner is drawing near, so good-bye. We have had a good day, and
have been up to the pyramid put on a hill-top as a memorial to the
Prince, with the beautiful inscription.

_Sept. 27._--I do not think Sunday is the best of days here. I in
vain inquired with care about episcopal services; there did not
seem to be one within fifteen miles, if indeed so near. We had
something between family prayer and a service in the dining-room
at ten; it lasted about forty minutes. Dr. Caird gave a short
discourse, good in material, though over florid in style for my
taste. The rest of the day I have had to myself. The Prince and
Princess of Hesse I think went to the parish church. You are
better off at Penmaenmawr.... I saw the tw