stood by the door which
led into the Throne Room through which she was to enter. Four meters
behind her was her daughter holding her train, and behind her were the
ladies who had not already been presented at court.

The room not being long enough, we formed a serpentine curve,
reminding one of the game called "Follow the leader." It must look
funny to any one not knowing why we were so carefully tending the
clothes of other people. I never let go the train of the colleague in
front until she reached the door of the Throne Room, where I spread it
out on the floor. Then, as the lady passed into the room, two lackeys,
one on each side of the door, poked the train with long sticks until
it lay peacock-like on the parquet.

[Illustration:
TWO VIEWS OF ROYALTY
From photographs taken at Lyngby, near Copenhagen, in 1894. In the
facing photograph the former Czar of Russia is seen, with black hat
and light clothes, holding his favorite dog. From left to right the
others are: the Princess of Hesse; the Princess Marie; Prince Waldemar
with his dog; a _dame d'honneur_; King Christian X. of Denmark; and
the present Czar of Russia. The man at the extreme left of the picture
is the present King, George of Greece.]

This is rather a critical moment. One has a great many things to think
of. In the first place, you must keep at the proper distance from your
predecessor. Of this you can be pretty sure, because if you walk too
fast there is the restraining hand of the chamberlain to prevent you.
Still, there is always the fear of dropping your fan or tripping over
the front of your gown or of your tiara falling off.

When I came in I saw His Majesty standing on the throne, stately and
solemn. For two hours he stands thus. With a mass of officers on my
right and a few chamberlains at intervals on my left I advanced very
slowly and, I hope, with a certain dignity. I saw the train of my
colleague turn the corner around the officers. Two other lackeys
darted forth and pronged my train in place. I made my courtesy first
to the Emperor and then to the Empress, who stood at his left.

Next to her Majesty stood the _grande maitresse_. I put myself by her
side and presented Frederikke and our secretary's wife, and the
_grande maitresse_ said their names to the Empress. Then as we passed
out a servant picked up our trains and threw them over our arms,
disappearing through the door of the immensely long gallery which is
filled with pictures co