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14 September 1881 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Wednesday. 14th September [1881]. We breakfasted at 9 & then I went up & modelled having the girl for the last time to sit to me. In the middle of it came Mrs Eden & Mrs Minch to borrow our English Flag as a pattern to make one. They did not stay long. We lunched at 1 and directly after Henry & the Bruce party went off in his gondola to the meeting of the Giunta. At 2 I & Mrs Burr set out for the Piazzetta. I went to visit the Queen of Italy & Mrs Burr waited for me in the square. I found my way up the rather narrow dirty stairs & was shown at once into the Queen’s appartment where she was waiting for me. She received me most graciously & gave me her cheek to kiss to my great astonishment. She kept me talking for about ¾ hour on every subject. She regretted our not going to Rome & said she had hoped the Pagets would go to Russia. She asked me if I knew Ouida—& on my saying I was happy to say I did not she said “I have that honor because Lady Paget presented her to me & she (Lady P.) wrote me a long letter explaining all abt her relations with Stufa. Perhaps she had the idea that I would make him marry her but such was certainly not my intention.” We talked of books, of poetry, of Venice, of work, of fishing, on every variety of subject & she sat looking so pretty & fascinating. When at last she permitted me to leave, she kissed me again & wrung my hand most warmly holding it in her both hands. I found Mrs Burr sitting in the Piazza waiting for me. We walked to the chemist’s to order the Squire’s medecines & then back to the Piazzetta to the gondola & went home. Had a visit from the Marquis & Mss of Bentivoglio, an old Venetian pair with whom I had made acquaintance at the Valmarana’s. Then Mrs Greville Nugent came (Cecil Hankey of my youth) & at the same time Marquis Dragonetti & Ct Colobiano, then came Mr John Bell the 3rd British Commissioner at the Congress & I took him up stairs to see the Squire. Then the Duke & Dss of Sermoneta called & Henry & Lord Aberdare returned in time to see them. Mrs Burton the wife of the traveller called. She is a peculiar looking woman stout & tall—& with yellow hair wh she had arranged in a sort of a long fringe over her forehead & wh was of the brightest colour. She talked a great deal and exaggerated things as she does in her books but she was amusing. We hear of many more friends being here & I made up my mind to ask them all to tea on Friday eveng so after dinner Mrs Burr & I wrote the invitations. Mr Bell dined with us. Henry took the whole Bruce party to the theatre, Mr Bell left early & Mrs Burr & I went upstairs & wrote. I then played cribbage with the Squire in his room till 10 when I retired to rest. | |
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