ced those. We played
"Fox and geese"; I fancy, from seeing his amusement, that he had
never had a real romp in all his life. To finish, we danced a
Virginia reel. This was new to him and pleased him immensely. He
insisted upon going through the entire dance until every couple
had done its part.

A few days later King Oscar sent me the decoration of _Litteris at
Artibus_, which I shall wear on great occasions. This decoration
is a gold medal, and the ribbon that goes with it is blue. Queen
Christina of Sweden instituted the order. The medal is only given
to women of merit, artistic or literary. Jenny Lind, Frederika
Bremer, and Christina Nillson, and others have it.

I have become the _doyenne_ of the Diplomatic Corps. I intend to
make my colleagues walk very straight. So far my duties consist of
dancing in _quadrilles d'honneur_ and always being taken into
supper before every one else, and having the first place
everywhere; I take precedence of all guests. These honors do not
turn my head.

STOCKHOLM, _April, 1897_.

Dear L.,--We have been named to Paris.

Never did people have such a time getting away from a place.

All our furniture except a sofa and two chairs had been packed,
and was already on the way to Paris.

The entire morning I was busy receiving notes and bouquets of all
dimensions, tied with every imaginable national color.

We breakfasted with our colleagues from Germany, who had the
apartment above us. While still at table a royal chamberlain
announced that King Oscar was coming in half an hour to bid us
good-by. Heavens! How could we receive his Majesty without carpets
or curtains, only the sofa and two chairs! What a predicament! But
our good and kind friends came bravely to the rescue. They offered
to send down rugs, palms, and flowers, so that we could receive
our royal guest in the curtainless room. Well, the palms and
plants did certainly make the room look more inviting. J. camped
on the one chair, and the King and I sat on the sofa. The King
stayed half an hour. We were as sorry to leave him as he was to
have us go. He kissed me on my forehead, and kissed J. on both
cheeks, and said, "I shall come to Paris to see you."

J. escorted the King down-stairs and put him in his carriage,
while I wiped away a tear.

The royal visit over, our borrowed plumes were returned. Hardly
was the apartment bare again when there came a court lackey
telling our bewildered valet that the "Crown Prince