et fire to the palace and burned them all up.
What do you think of your adorable Hamlet now?"

"I think," said M. de W., curtly, "all things considered, that Hamlet
was a damn fool!"

"I thought so too until I read the speech he made to his subjects when
he mounted the throne. It was the most beautiful bit of sentiment, the
tenderest tribute to his dead father, and showed his undaunted love for
his country. I am sorry that Shakespeare made no mention of this."

Mr. Story, who was with us, said he once heard a lady say she did not
care much for Shakespeare, because he was "so full of quotations."

ROME, _1884_.

Dear ----,--The King drives every day in his high English phaeton
through the crowded streets, not fearing to expose himself to his
people, as some other sovereigns do.

When some one remonstrated with him, "Your Majesty ought not to run
such risk," he answered, smilingly: "_Comment donc! C'est un des ennuis
de notre metier_." Everybody bows respectfully, and in return he takes
off his hat and holds it at right angles, keeping the reins in the
other hand. Sometimes he does not get the chance to put his hat back on
his head the whole length of the _Corso_. His adjutant sits by his side
and a lacquey sits behind, dressed in black. The King likes simplicity
in all things.

The Queen drives in a landau (_a huit resorts_), accompanied by her
lady in waiting; the servants in their brilliant red liveries can be
seen from a long distance. Her Majesty recognizes every one, smiles and
bows right and left; sometimes she will look back and give a person an
extra smile. She says that she can see, while flying by, all the
objects exposed in the shop windows, and often sends the servant back
to buy what she has noticed.

When their Majesties meet in the drive in their respective equipages
the Queen rises in her seat as if to make a courtesy, and the King
responds in the most ceremonious manner.

Before Christmas the Queen goes about in the shops and makes her own
purchases (the shops are then shut to the public). All the ladies of
the court receive magnificent gifts, generally in the shape of jewels.

The King always keeps on his writing-table and within touch a quantity
of rare unset stones. He likes to look at them and handle them; and
then, when the occasion comes to give a present, he has the stones set
in diamonds.

MILAN, _November 2, 1884_.

My dear Aunt,--We arrived here last night, and shall remain t