self, as affable and charming as one could possibly be,
and put me at my ease immediately.

She had a little diamond ball hanging on a chain in the folds of her
dress, the prettiest little watch I ever saw. After a half-hour, which
passed like a flash, the Marquise reappeared in the doorway. This was a
signal for me to take my leave. The Queen rose, gave me her hand, and
said, "Good-by, Madame de Hegermann; I'm so glad to have you here in
Rome."

I should have liked to kiss her hand, but I was told that the wife of a
foreign minister never kisses the hand of any queen save her own.

I feel now that I am really launched. Let us hope that my barque will
ride the waves successfully! In Europe visits are not as with us in
America. Here the residents wait until the stranger makes the first
visit; in America it is just the contrary. I must say I like the
European way best. It would be very awkward for _me_ to receive
visitors now, especially when my household is in its present chaotic
state. I hope it will be only a question of cards for some time yet.

_January 20, 1881._

Dear Mother,--Last night the Princess Palavicini gave what she intended
to be the finest ball of the season, for which no expense was spared.
They had sent to Paris for the cotillon favors, to Nice for flowers to
decorate the magnificent _salons_ of the Palazzo Rospigliosi, and to
Naples for the famous Neapolitan orchestra.

The Princess Palavicini is one of the Queen's ladies of honor, belongs
to one of the most aristocratic families in Italy, and claims to have
the most select society in Rome. The King and the Queen had consented
to grace the ball with their presence. That the King had promised to go
was a great exception, as he has never been willing to go to any
function outside of the Quirinal since the much-talked-of ball at the
Duke di Fiano's. I believe that it is only his keen sense of duty that
makes him attend his own entertainments.

All the guests were assembled and awaiting the arrival of their
Majesties, but they did not come. The reason given was that the present
members of the Ministry took exception to the fact that neither they
nor their wives had been invited. The Ministers sent word to the King
that if their Majesties attended the ball they would give in their
resignations _en bloc_. The result was that the ball was a complete
failure. All the spirit had gone out of the guests, who moved about
aimlessly, talking in groups, an