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22 October 1892 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Saturday. 22nd October [1892]. Wrote in the morning. Ct & Css Benomar came to luncheon– Ola went to the station to meet Css Pisani who had written to say she was coming today—but found she had arrived yesterday. After lunch the Empress sent over to say we were to go out with her & she fetched me in her gondola & went round to the Lido– Princess Margaret followed with the fiancé in another gondola & Henry, Miss Cadogan & Ola in another. H.M. was very sad & depressed as today was taking place the christening at Neue Palais of the Emperor’s 1st daughter. She said she had hoped it would not have come off in the house in wh she had lived when her own children were born & where her husband had died– It was no place for gaiety & she herself could not have borne to be there—but the Emperor was indifferent to her feelings. I told her I thought the Empress was most to blame as it was the place of a wife to think of those things & that it was want of cleverness & tact on her part & she agreed that she ought to have more influence over her husband for good & persuade him to be less rash. “What is it all but restless desire to be spoken of & be kept before the public. Why go & see a whale butchered & why get up this ride to Vienna of the German officers—killing poor dumb beasts– Oh! it is too cruel. If they were only kind to me! They do not even like their children to like me– All last winter from Novr to April they only sent them to see me once—& one little boy sat on the floor & said “Grand mama we thought you wd give us tea.” I said I would certainly do so if you would come.” “Why dont you come to see me. “Because my mama dont like us to” the child answered.” We rowed to S. Elizabetta & walked along the sands to Quattro Fontane & the gondolas met us there. Henry returned in the gondola with the Emp. & I. I told H.M. all about this lawsuit that the Duke of Westr is going to bring against Theodora to prevent her getting her mother’s money. She was horrified & said “Could nothing be done to stop it!” When she heard that the Duke wants to prove that Theo’s character was done before her marriage she was indignant. We also told her about the suit for libel against Mr Budge that Rassam was going to bring & how Henry is called as witness in both cases & we may have to go to England for them next month. As we got near the gondolas at a cottage door was a child of abt 10 holding a 1 year old baby looking ill & weak & the Empress stopped & spoke to it & commiserated it. The girl said it had fever. We got home soon after five & after leaving the Empress at home I went to call on Pss Hatzfeldt & Countess Wolkenstein & they gave me tea, met Ct Seckendorff there. I then went to see Css Pisani & sat some time with her. She expected Marchesa Guiccioli (née Benkendorff) to stay with her. I waited some time to see her but her train was late so I had to go home as it was then 7. Dinner at 8. Patience in eveng. Mr Malcolm dined with us. | |
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