t to the throne. She spoke only Danish to us, so I sat and
gazed about, not understanding a word she said to Johan.

She wore flaxen braids wound above her ears, through which the cotton
showed like the petal of a flower. She had a lace cap on her head with
long lace ends, and these caught in everything she wore--her
eye-glasses, her neck-chain, her rings and bracelets, and she seemed to
do nothing but try to extricate herself while talking. This she did
steadily, in order (I suppose) to prevent any one else from talking.
She is so deaf that she cannot hear a word. She had once been burned,
and the effects of that, with the mark of former smallpox, makes her
face look far from handsome. But all these things have not prevented
her from reaching the ripe old age of eighty.

Johan supplied what little there was of conversation on our side. She
asked him, "How did you come to Denmark?" He, enchanted to be asked
something he could answer, replied that he had come on one of the big
German boats, and, to accentuate the fact that it was something _big_
he came in, he made a wide circular movement with his arms and became
quite eloquent, flattering himself that he was very interesting. The
Princess fixed a pair of earnest eyes on him, and said, in hushed
tones, "And what became of the child?"

We took our leave. In stooping to kiss her Royal Highness's hand her
cap caught in an ornament I had on my bonnet, and there we stood tied
together. Johan tried in vain to undo us, but was obliged to call in
the lady-in-waiting, who finally disentangled us.

DENMARK, _January, 1878_.

Dear Mother,--The Queen of Denmark is an adorable and lovely queen. I
am happy to call her _my_ Queen.

A few days after my audience we were invited to a dinner at
Amalienborg. We met in the _salon_, before their Majesties came in.
When they had made a little _cercle_ and said a word to every one,
dinner was announced. The King gave one arm to the Queen and the other
to the Princess Anne of Hesse--the Queen's sister-in-law. The King and
the Queen sat next to each other. There were about forty people at
table. Admiral Bille took me in; he talked English perfectly, and
was--like all naval officers!--very charming.

The Queen said to me: "I should so like to hear you sing. Will you come
to-morrow? I will send my carriage for you, and please don't forget to
bring some music."

As if I should forget! I was only too delighted.

The next morning the Que