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1 May 1904 — Rome | |
Sunday. 1st May [1904]. My early tea was daintily served up at 8 o’cl & I took it in bed. Then I dressed & went to the Beausite to see Eda & to arrange about going to church. I found that I could not get back from the service in time for 12 o’cl lunch so I gave up going & went back to the Palace. At ¼ to 12 I went down by the lift to the 1st floor where the Queen lives & was shown into the room where the court assembles. Count Guiccioli was there also Ct Scarampi del Cairo, Marchesa di Villamarina, her daughter Mimi. The Queen appeared from her rooms at 12 & greeted me very kindly & kissed me—did the same to the Brandolins & then took my arm & led me into the dining room to lunch. The meal was a short one—2 dishes of eggs—one of meat & one of sweets. After lunch H.M. lead the way into the garden where we sat under an enormous old plane tree till after 3 o’cl, when the Queen rose, laid aside her knitting & we all went in doors & retired to our rooms. Dressed & started abt 4 in carriages to a palace where there was a conference on Dante by a priest. He first explained the ideas & then recited the verses referred to. The Queen went after this for a drive with her court & Css Brandolin & I went in a court carriage to pay visits—left cards & took Eda with us. They dropped me finally in Via Torino where I paid a visit to poor old Mme de Hurtado. Since she lost her only daughter Idita Bentivoglio whom I had known as a child, the poor old lady is quite knocked down. I found her lying on a sofa in her bed room. She began to cry when she saw me—but soon recovered & was pleased to see me. When I first saw her in 1869 she was a very handsome woman with black hair & eyes & very buxom. She is now worn to a shadow but keeps her [hair] still black with die & had fine eyes so that one was reminded much of her former looks. She was always of such a nervous fretting disposition that Idita’s great care was to shield her from trouble & worry & all to no avail as she has now worse to bear. Her husband is attentive to her now but when I first knew her he had abandoned her & the child & they lived with her father Sir Wm Perry who was consul general of Venice. I walked back to the Palace & dressed for dinner going down in the lift from my floor to the 1st floor at 8.15. At 8.30 the Queen emerged from her rooms shook hands with every one & taking my arm conducted me to table. We got through it quickly. I sat always at the Queen’s right hand & she talks to me mostly in English. The conversation in general is in Italian which they know I understand but H. Majesty speaks so very quickly & indistinctly that I find it difficult to understand her in any language– The talk at table is very general. Coffee is served at all meals before we leave the table. After dinner we retire to the drawing room a splendid room most beautifully furnished & arranged with the greatest taste—well lighted with Electric light. The Queen has her special chair next a small table on wh is her knitting &c. Next on her right is a long sofa & she motioned me to sit on it near her—& by me sat Ninina Brandolin—a round table stands at the other end of the sofa & next it a chair where the Marchesa Villamarina sat. Opposite us under a window Mimi sat & played patience & talked with Margherita Brandolin & the 2 court gentlemen. The Queen & the Marchesa knitted. The evening papers were brought to the Queen who read them & gave us the news wh were in general from the Far East abt the Russo Japanese war. Abt 10 the Q. rose & led the way to the white & gold drawing room & received anyone who might come—a gentleman or two. We all sat en circle. A table with ices & drinks was brought in by 2 servants. After a little talk between the Q. & her guests she would rise ask for an ice & then retire to the former drawing room—some times she made us a sign to follow her—& we remained another half hour chatting going to our rooms at 11 o’cl. | |
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