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9 May 1883 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Wednesday. 9th May [1883]. I sent to Idita & she came in the sandalo at 10.30. The Pss Victoria came at 11 & we had hardly got into the sandalo when the Css came. She & Mlle Gersdorff in the shut gondola & we in the sandalo went to Sta Apostoli. The Pss & I got out & walked. In the square there we found an old man selling raw asparagus & the Pss made Mlle Gersdorff buy a bundle to give as a joke to one of their gentlemen, I did not catch wh. Then she & I went to the Kindergarten where HIH was received by Signora della Vida the lady who set it up. The good old lady who was very deaf & had a most benevolent countenance told us all abt it but it was very difficult to make her understand the C. Pss & I screamed in one ear & the Pss in the other. The Pss was much pleased with the school wh was very airy & had a nice little garden– From there we went to the Pescheria at the Rialto & went right thro’ the fish market—the Pss holding her handkerchief to her nose but being interested at the fish. The Kindergarten was just beyond. We found there a nice little German called Herr Pick but they did not expect us. The children had just finished their singing lesson & were going to dine. The Pss begged them to sing a little & then to be allowed to eat. They sang & then marched to music to dinner. Each had their own food either brought with or to them. The Pss imagining one child did not know how to eat her polenta fed her herself. We then rejoined our gondolas & went to Mr Malcolm’s house. The Pss, Mlle Gersdorff & I landed & went over the house & Idita & Pss Victoria waited below in the gondola. Mr Malcolm gave them 2 big bouquets & from there they went home. Idita dropped me in her sandalo as she went home. I dressed & Henry, Morelli & I hurried off to Danieli’s to lunch with their I. Highnesses. After lunch there was a great discussion abt the Pss plans. The C. Prince leaves tonight for Berlin & the Princess was going South accompanied by Morelli. At 3 other people came & Henry & I left & we took Morelli with us. I went into the Britannia to see Lady Marian Alford & the others went on to the Stabto. Lady M. said she expected the Royal party to tea with her at the Ca’ Dario tonight & asked me to help her. I offered to go with her to the Stabto to help her to choose some glass & there we went. Henry & Morelli were still there when the P. & Pss came to claim Morelli & carried him off. Henry went home. The Pss told Lady Marian who was at the door of the Stabto that they would go to her between 5 & 6 so we hustled off as it was then 3.30. The carpet was being put down on the stairs—the boxes being brought & plants arranged. I took Lady Marian’s gondola & rushed off home to get her cups & saucers & spoons & bethought me of our uneaten dessert of last night & took her a lot of cakes– This I took to the Ca’ Dario & Lord Alwyne Compton & I helped to arrange the furniture & put the tea table & finally got every thing in order & we sat down to admire our work– The house is pretty & artistic altho’ untidy & not over clean. Having seen everything settled & being very tired I declined an invitation to remain & went home—got some tea & rested in the boudoir. Morelli joined us also very tired & we sat still till dinner time– Dined at 7.30 & directly after we went in open gondola to the Piazzetta calling en route for Idita & we joined the royal party who were walking up & down– There was rather a crowd as the band was playing & so the C. Prince made us go & walk on the Piazzetta. The Pss wanted to sit on the steps of the column but I dissuaded her. Pss Victoria & Idita sat there with Mlle Passini. The Pss said she wd send me a book abt Kindergärten & again asked me whether I would like her to paint me a small figure. She talked of Baker P. & his wife whom she said she liked so much (the wife) & felt so much for her & the way English people avoided her as tho’ she was responsible for her husband’s faults. She said she cd not see why Lady Baker (Sir Sam’s wife) she be recd so easily on the other hand. I told HIH that the old Dss of Montrose was in Venice; she said “what not the terrible Dss”! & then she said how strange the world was in admitting some & not others & she thought no one knew the trials & temptations & reasons for peoples behaviour & one ought not to judge any one hardly. We all stood talking sometime at the foot of the great column of St Theodoro & at abt 9.30 the Pss said she must take leave of me—kissed me on both cheeks—said many pretty things abt our kindness to her & her enjoyment of Venice & walked home. We took Morelli & Idita with us. Left the latter at her home & went to our home to bed. | |
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