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15 September 1881 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Thursday. 15th September [1881]. We breakfasted at 8.30 & directly after Henry & Lord Aberdare went off to the opening of the Geographical Congress & they did not return till 12. I had rather a headache but I worked a little at my clay. Andriana Marcello came & I tried to persuade her to get some of the Venetians to receive of an evening & she went away to see what she could do. I finished reading “Delphine” which is indeed a curious book & seems to me very immoral altho’ Lady Eastlake in her article in the Quarterly Review on Mme de Stael praises it so. Lunched at 1 & then Henry went out with the Bruce party all excepting Mr Bruce who was not very well. Giovi put up the Gentile Bellini which arrived from Milan & had been put in order by Cavenaghi. Sir Henry & Miss Thompson turned up unexpectedly to our great delight but we could not have them to stay with us as they came 10 days before we expected them. Sir Henry went up to see the Squire & prescribed for his gout. Andriana came back to fetch Theresa and then I went upstairs & read & rested till 5. Mrs Eden & Mrs Minch called & Mrs E. wanted to see the Squire but he was asleep & she said she would return tomorrow. Mr & Mrs Jeune (Mrs J. Stanley as was) came to call. They being on their honeymoon trip. He struck me as very nice—very good looking & he is said to be very clever. She refused him several times but his persistence carried the day. There was a strong scirocco & I had a headache & poor Giovi had to go to bed with fever & headache. It was very unfortunate but they managed to serve dinner without him. After dinner the Bruce party & Mrs Burr went off to the Geog. Exn to see the illuminations. At 9 Henry & I went to the Palace to a soirée at Court. Immediately on arriving the King came up to me & spoke very kindly as he was close to the door & when the Queen saw me she crossed the room to shake hands with me & was charming as ever. I also saw the Duke d’Aosta and he was most cordial. I had not seen him to speak to since he left Spain. On my enquiring after his sons he told me the eldest was 14 & going to school & I told him I had his photo done when he was 2 years old! Mme Villamarina then took me to the end windows to see the illumination of the Square which was splendid but the heat in the Palace was something tremendous. All the lines of architecture were picked out with small lamps– The campanile had a large revolving star in gas—& the church of St Marks was lighted by an electric light on its facade which had a fairy like effect & one almost expected it to melt away. The King & Queen & Prince Amadeo went to the windows & were immensely cheered by all the crowd in the Piazza wh was a perfect sea of heads. Then they remained talking & the Queen spoke to me again & a few minutes after the K & Q & Duke took their departure. We remained talking a short time to our friends & abt 10 went home with Css Marcello as we had ordered our gondola later & had let it go to take the maids out. We got to the door just as the maids came back. I went to see the Squire & then went to bed– | |
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