ur voice, but would they
mine? No one can sing them as you do."

"I learnt them with Massenet; that is why," I replied.

I wrote to Massenet and begged him to send the same collection to the
Queen, as she had been so delighted with his songs, and added, "Don't
forget to put your name, the dates, and a bar or two of music just like
what you sent to me."

Most amiably he did what I asked for, and the Queen was more than
pleased, and immediately thanked him through the Marquise Villamarina.

Massenet has become a great celebrity now. Twenty years ago, when he
was struggling to get on in Paris, Auber and I helped him. I used to
pay him five francs an hour for copying manuscripts. Now one pays
twenty francs _just to look at him_!

Mr. Morgan, of London, has hired our good friend George Wurts's
magnificent apartment in the relic-covered Palazzo Antici-Mattei. Wurts
is secretary to the American Legation in Petersburg, but comes
occasionally to see his friends in Rome, who all welcome him with
delight. Mr. Morgan gives beautiful dinners, and, although he has as
many fires as he can possibly have, the huge rooms are freezingly cold,
and sometimes we sit wrapped in our mantles.

ROME, _1st of January, 1886_.

My dear Aunt,--All Johan's and my most affectionate greetings: "May the
year which commences to-day bring you every joy." I am selfish enough
to wish that it will bring _us_ the joy of seeing you. You promised to
make us a visit. Why not this spring?

It is six o'clock. I am sitting in my dressing-gown and feeling good
for nothing. The diplomatic reception this afternoon was as brilliant
as the others which I have described so often. The Queen was, _if
possible_, more beautiful and gracious than ever. (I think the same
each time I see her.) Every eye followed her. Does there exist in the
world a more complete and lovely woman? To-day the Queen's dress was
exquisite--a white satin covered with paillettes and beads, the court
train of blue velvet heavily embroidered in silver. The tiara of
diamonds, with great upward-pointed shaped pearls which her Majesty
wore, was the King's New-year gift. "My Christmas present," the Queen
told me.

The King seemed more talkative than usual; he spoke a long time with
each person and smiled and laughed continually. Politics must be
_easy_--like honors in whist. There is evidently no trouble in that
quarter.

_March._

Dear ----,--I have permission to tell the great secret.