I
shall never forget the first night that I saw the Empress--a
vision of beauty, clothed in silver, crowned with water-lilies,
with large rows of diamonds and emeralds round her small head and
her beautiful hair, and descending all down her dress in festoons.
The throne-room is immense, with marble columns down each side--
all the men arranged on one side and all the women on the other,
and the new presentations with their ambassadors and embassadresses
nearest the throne. When the Emperor and Empress came in, they
walked up the middle, the Empress curtseying most gracefully and
smiling a general gracious greeting. They then ascended the
throne, and presently the Empress turned to our side. The
presentations first took place, and she spoke to each one in
her own language, and on her own particular subject. I was quite
entranced with her beauty, her cleverness, and her conversation.
She passed down the ladies' side, and then came up that of the
men, the Emperor doing exactly the same as she had done. He
also spoke to us. Then some few of us whose families the Empress
knew about were asked to sit down, and refreshments were handed
to us--the present Georgina Lady Dudley sitting by the Empress.
It was a thing never to be forgotten to have seen those two
beautiful women sitting side by side. The Empress Frederick of
Germany--Crown Princess she was then--was also there, and sent
for some of us on another day, which was in many ways another
memorable event, and her husband also came in.
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