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14 September 1900 — Schloss Friedrichshof, Kronberg | |
Friday. 14th [September 1900]. Breakfast at 9.30. Seckendorff said laughingly that the Baron & I had arranged the affairs of nations last night at which the Empress said quite warmly that she wd not allow these matters to be discussed as it made her too angry to hear England abused & she would not have the pleasure of the last hour of my being with her to be spoiled. I put on my bonnet directly after breakfast. The Empress had managed to walk to a chair not far from the door of the great hall & there I took leave of Her Majesty. She said “God bless you” & kissed me kindly & said she was sorry she could not rise & see me off. I left her there & went away out of the large doors & found the Reischachs, Seckendorff & Css Perponcher waiting to wish me good bye. Princess Margaret also came & off I & my maid went to Cronberg station & left by the 10.30 train for Frankfurt. There we had an hour to wait—got tickets for Munich & register the luggage. I had a very comfortable journey & reached Munich at 8.15 P.M. Reregistered the luggage & took tickets to Toblach. At 11.30 P.M. arrived at Kufstein & passed the luggage thro’ the Austrian Customs then slept until 4 A.M. when we got to Franzensfeste where changed trains—had coffee & started again after 5 A.M. for Toblach. Reached there at 7.15. Took a carriage & drove to Landro. Got there abt 9. Found Eda Alderson & Nela, Virginia & Julia & Isabel Du Cane at the hotel. They were breakfasting & looking out for the Q. Margherita of Italy who was expected to drive past on her way to Toblach from the Lago Misurina where she has been staying for the sake of her health. I stood by the road side to see H.M. pass which she did about 10. She recognised me & gave me a special smile & bow. It was a melancholy procession. Police & officers before & after her carriage & she & her lady in the deepest mourning. It struck me so painfully that I turned away in tears. I feel very deeply for her. I rested till lunch at 1.30 & then took a stroll in the afternoon. We had supper at 7.30 & went early to bed. There was a lady called Baroness van Hoem staying at the hotel who introduced herself to me as being a great friend of Mr Cartwright of Aynhoe—a widow—fat fair & forty. She was pleasant & we had many mutual friends. There was a party of French people also at meals—the only other people staying in the hotel besides ourselves. We went about in the woods collecting seeds of the big grey clematis which grows up the pine trees– I wanted some to send to the Empress Frederick. Just before I left Schloss Friedrichshof H.M. gave me the printed prayer written by Queen Margherita on the murder of the King. She gave me the copy the Q. Margherita herself had sent her. | |
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