axen braids, sat in front--said, in a loud and
penetrating voice, "I like _that_ lady's singing better than the other
one's"--meaning me. Every one laughed. I had never had a _cornet a
piston_ as a rival before.

_March 1, 1878._

Dear Mother,--Our last day here. I lunched at Amalienborg, and was the
only stranger present. The King, who sat next to me, said, "I feel
quite hurt that you have never asked me for my photograph."

"But I have one," I answered, "which I bought. I dare not ask your
Majesty to sign it."

"One must always dare," he answered, smilingly. "May I 'dare' to ask
you to accept one from me?" He got up from the table and left the room,
being absent for a few minutes. When the door opened again we saw the
King standing outside, trying to carry a large picture. His Majesty had
gone up to the room in which the picture hung, and the servant who had
taken it from the wall brought it to the door of the dining-room,
whence the King carried it in himself. The mark of the dusty cord still
showed on his shoulder. It was a life-size portrait of himself painted
in oil.

He said, "Will you accept this?"

I could not believe my ears. This for me! I hesitated.

The Queen said, "My dear, you must take it, since the King desires it."

"But," I replied, "how can I?"

Her Majesty answered, "Your husband would not like you to refuse. Take
it!--_you must!_" and added, "The ribbon [the blue Order of the
Elephant] is beautifully painted"--as if the rest were not!

The Princess Thyra said, "Papa has only had six portraits painted of
himself. This one is painted by Mr. Shytte. I don't think that it is
half handsome enough for papa. Do you?"

"Well," said the King, "I shall have it sent to your hotel." I could
not thank his Majesty enough, and I am sure I looked as embarrassed as
I felt.

As we were going away the next day, this was my last visit to the
Queen. On bidding me good-by she pressed something into my hand and
said, "You leave me so many _souvenirs_! I have only one for you, and
here it is."

It was a lovely locket of turquoises. On opening it I found the Queen's
portrait on one side and the Princess Thyra's on the other.

She kissed me, and I kissed her hand, with tears in my eyes.

We return to Bjoernemose to bid our parents good-by; then farewell to
Denmark.

We leave in four days for New York.

WASHINGTON, _February, 1879_.

Dear Mother,--Monsieur de Schloezer is one of the colleagues who