, the oleander and the mimosa, are spreading, she could think.
Other images crowded to her brain; troops of admirers were before her
fancy; the hum of adulation filled her ears; splendid salons, resounding
with delicious music, and ablaze with a thousand wax-lights, rose before
her imagination, and her heart swelled with conscious triumph. The
transition was most abrupt, then, from a description of scenery and
natural objects to a narrative of the actual life of Florence:

"Up to this, Nelly, we have seen no one, except Mr. Jekyl,
whom you will remember as having met at Baden. He dines here
several days every week, and is most amusing with his funny
anecdotes and imitations, for he knows everybody, and is a
wonderful mimic. You 'd swear Dr. Grounsell was in the next
room if you heard Mr. Jekyl' s imitation. There has been
some difficulty about an opera-box, for Mr. Jekyl, who
manages everybody, will insist upon having Prince
Midchekoff's, which is better than the royal box, and has
not succeeded. For this reason we have not yet been to the
Opera; and, as the Palace has been undergoing a total change
of decoration and furniture, there has been no reception
here as yet; but on Tuesday we are to give our first ball.
All that I could tell you of splendor, my dearest Nelly,
would be nothing to the reality of what I see here. Such
magnificence in every detail; such troops of servants, all
so respectful and obliging, and some dressed in liveries
that resemble handsome uniforms! Such gold and silver plate!
such delicious flowers everywhere on the staircase, in the
drawing-room, here, actually, beside me as I write! And, oh,
Nelly, if you could see my dress! Lace, with bouquets of red
camellia, and looped up with strings of small pearls. Think
of me, of poor Kate Dal ton, wearing such splendor! And,
strange enough, too, I do not feel awkward in it. My hair,
that you used to think I dressed so well myself, has been
pronounced a perfect horror; and although I own it did shock
me at first to hear it, I now see that they were perfectly
right. Instead of bands, I wear ringlets down to my very
shoulders; and Nina tells me there never was such an
improvement, as the character of my features requires
softening. Such quantities of dress as I have got, too! for
there is endless t