my singing, when we were both guests at _Chateau Furstenberg_.
The Queen added, "My brother is not musical" (indeed he was not), "but
he said no singing had ever pleased him like yours." I bowed and tried
not to look incredulous. "The King," she said, "is looking forward with
great pleasure to seeing you again. He remembers a certain song you
sang. Was it not 'Beware,' or something like that?"

I did not think it unlikely. I had sung it often enough, goodness
knows.

I replied I did sing a song called that.

The dire step had been taken, and as far as sleeves were concerned the
incident was closed.

When I reached home I changed my dress and drove to the house of the
"suffering" _doyenne_. She had not expected such quick inquiries, for
she looked the picture of health; and I met on the staircase a court
lackey evidently bent on the same errand. She stammered a great many
things about her headache, and how, when she had that particular _kind_
of headache, she was incapacitated from any effort. I sympathized
deeply with her.

Her first question was, "Did the Queen have on the sleeves?"

"Certainly," I answered, curtly.

_January, 1891._

Dear L.,--King Oscar is a king after one's ideas of what a king ought
to be. He looks the king every inch of him, and that is saying a good
deal, because he is over six feet. He has a splendid physique, is
handsome and of much talent. He is a writer and a poet, and speaks all
languages. You must be told that some kings are kings; but King Oscar,
there is no doubt about what he is!

At a concert the other evening he came and sat by me, and began talking
of music, of _his_ singing, and _my_ singing, and so forth, and
finished by saying, "Would you like to have me come to you some day and
sing?"

"Of course, your Majesty," I said. "I should be delighted. When may we
have the honor of expecting you?"

"How would next Thursday be?" he asked. "And would half past two be
agreeable to you?"

I replied, "Any day or any hour will suit me," although it was in fact
the only day which did _not_ suit me, as it was my reception-day.

"I hope that we may be quite by ourselves," said the King. "Only you
and the members of your Legation."

This I could easily promise, as I should have, in any case, closed my
doors.

"Your Majesty will stay and have a cup of tea. I hope."

"With pleasure," he answered, "if that will not make my visit too
long."

"Too long, your Majesty! How could i