our
husband that I have kept you." Of course I stayed. We had a great deal
of music. I sang "Beware" for the first time. The Queen said, "Oh, the
King must hear that," and rang the bell, sending the servant to beg
Prince Valdemar to come in.

On his appearing, the Queen said, "Valdemar, you must tell papa that he
must come." Prince Valdemar soon returned, saying, "Papa has lumbago,
and says he cannot come." The Queen shook her head, evidently not
believing in the lumbago, and said, "Lumbago or not, papa _must_ come,
even if we have to _bring_ him."

The King came without being "brought," and I sang "Beware" for him, and
then "_Ma mere etait bohemienne_," the Queen accompanying me in both.

"Now," said the Queen, "please sing that song which you play for
yourself--the one with such a dash." She meant "Biondina."

"Please, madame," said the King, when I had finished, "sing 'Beware'
again."

Then we went down a little side-staircase for luncheon. The dining-room
is quite small and looks out upon the square. The table could not have
seated more than twelve people. Besides the King and Queen, there were
Prince Hans and Prince Wilhelm (brothers of the King), Prince Valdemar,
Princess Thyra, and myself. There were no ladies or gentlemen in
waiting, except the King's adjutant.

On a side-table were the warm meats, vegetables, and several cold
dishes. No servants were allowed in the room. It is the only meal when
the family are quite alone together; the serving was all done by the
royalties themselves. I felt quite shy when the King proposed to shell
my shrimps for me! "Oh, your Majesty," I said, "I can do that myself!"

"No," said he, "I am sure you cannot. At any rate, not as it ought to
be done."

He was quite right. I never could have done it so dexterously as he
did. He took the shells off and put the shrimps on some bread--they
looked like little pink worms. I did not dare to get up and serve
myself at the side-table, and rather than be waited on by royalty I
preferred eating little and going away hungry.

The King was very gay. He asked me how I was getting on with my Danish.
I told him some of my mistakes, at which they all laughed.

COPENHAGEN, _February, 1878_.

Dear Mother,--After our music and luncheon the other day at the palace
the Queen asked me if I would like to drive with her to see Bernstorff
Castle, where they spend their summers. I accepted the invitation with
delight. To drive with her was b