red from an official mouth for which we have
great respect) was worse than the evil. The rat refused to run about to
warn his friends. On the contrary, he would not move, but looked
imploringly into the eyes of his tormentor, as if begging to be allowed
to die in his normal skin. Then, I believe, he went and sulked in a
corner and committed suicide--he was so mortified. We said one rat in a
corner was worse than twelve on the staircase.

The Outreys (the French Minister) had their diplomatic reception, and
sent cards to every one they knew and many they did not know. The
ladies who went expected Madame Outrey to be dressed in the latest
fashion; being the wife of the French Minister, it was her duty to let
society into the secrets of Parisian "modes," but she was dressed in a
simple, might-have-been-made-at-home black gown. This exasperated the
ladies (who had gone with an eye to copying) to such a degree that many
went home with pent-up and wounded feelings, as if they had been
defrauded of their rights and without supper--which, had they stayed,
they would have found to be the latest thing in suppers.

WASHINGTON.

The grass on our small plot has reached the last limit of endurance and
greenness, and is sprouting weeds at a great rate; also our one bush,
though still full of chirpiness, is beginning to show signs of
depression.

We were invited to a spiritualistic _seance_ at the L----'s _salon_.
The Empress Josephine has consented to materialize in America after
having visited the Continent. We saw her, and a more unempress-looking
empress I cannot imagine. To convince a skeptic she displayed her leg
to show how well it had succeeded in taking on flesh. I have no
patience with people who believe such nonsense. The famous spiritualist
Poster is also here in Washington. He is clever in a way, and has made
many converts simply by putting two and two together. We went, of
course, to see him, and came away astounded, but not convinced. He
produced a slate on which were written some wonderful things about a
ring which had a history in J.'s family. J. could not imagine how any
one could have known it. Foster said to me: "I had a premonition that
you were coming to-day. See!" and he pulled up his sleeve and there
stood "Lillie," written in what appeared to be my handwriting in gore,
I suppose--it was red. I urged Baron Bildt to go and see him, knowing
that he liked that sort of thing. The moment he appeared, Foster,
s