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16 October 1889 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Wednesday. 16th October [1889]. Henry & I went off to lunch on board the “Chazalie” at 12 o’clock—& from there went to write our names on the Royal party on the Osborne. It was a lovely day & quite hot. We met on board the “Chazalie” Mr Cecil Paget & Miss Evelyn Paget who are of the party. The Chazalie was at Consple in the time we were there when Mme Falbe was Mrs Gerard Leigh. She is a most beautiful ship fitted with great taste & most comfortable. Got home about 2 and went out again at 3 to call on Css Pisani & to promise & begged her to come home to tea with us which she did. M & Mme Falbe came also– Afterward Mr Story the American sculptor & his wife called & then 2 old Miss Horner’s of Florence authoresses of a book on Florence—later came Mr Methuen & Miss Plumtree & then Miss Fearon & Mr Jameson so I had little time to rest before dressing to go & dine on board the “Osborne.” Just as we were starting arrived Signor Morelli & Mme Minghetti from Milan to stay with us & we left them in the care of the 3 girls. We dined at 8.30 & there was also there M & Mme de Falbe. The Royal party were the P. & Pss of Wales, Prince Victor, Prince George, Princesses Victoria & Maud—& in attendance Col. Clark, Genl Ellis, Lord Suffield & Capt. Holford, Miss Knowles & Miss Paget & Captains Lambton & Bourke. The Prince took me in to dinner & Henry the Princess. I had Prince George on my right. Henry had Princess Maud on his other side. It was a pleasant lively party & the Prince of Wales was very talkative & we had much talk about the Empress Frederick & the late Emperor. He said he never could forget the effect of seeing the Emperor at his son Henry’s marriage. He looked like a man already half dead—& added I could have cried to see him thus dying by inches. When I asked him abt Morell Mackenzie the Prince said he did not like him but he could not but feel that he owed him one great debt of gratitude “that my sister was not left a widow as Crown Pss” & that altho’ he disliked him he supposed that in case of need he should call him in himself. He regretted very much the sad state of affairs between the Empress & her son & said that she was just as dismayed at what had happened & the feelings between them were so bitter that nothing her son could do was right even when he meant well. After dinner we the ladies went down to the state cabin & Nani’s boat came under the ship & struck up singing. The Pss of W. called me to interpret & ask them for different things & suddenly they disappeared– Then down came the Prince to tell us he had got Nani & all his company on board & we were to come up on deck. The Princess rather rebelled at the new arrangement but we all went up in our wraps & sat there till past 11 while the whole repertoire was gone thro’. The Prince hearing that Mme Minghetti was with us at once said he wd like to see her & proposed to lunch with us tomorrow. On going home I went upstairs & woke up Annie to tell her we should be 15 to lunch tomorrow. She says she will be ready. I went in to the girls who were not yet in bed & told them much to their delight. | |
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