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8 February 1910 — 3 Savile Row | |
Tuesday. 8th [February 1910]. Augusta & I went off to the National Gallery where I have not been for the last 2 or 3 years & had not seen the last picture by Velasquez wh had been acquired. I do not care for it & should have not thought it was by that master. Augusta’s husband & mine had been trustees to the gallery & we used to go thro’ often in those days & now we only take a saddened interest in it. After luncheon I went off by 4.30 train to Windsor to spend a night at Cumberland Lodge to talk over the momentous question of the lady in waiting. Their motor met me at the station & took me up to C.L. in abt 15 minutes. Baker & the luggage came in a cab wh took about an hour doing the same journey. I found Pss Christian, Princess Victoria & Miss Loch at tea & Prince Albert soon joined us. I had never seen him before– He is unattractive & heavy looking & not very bright in appearance. I had bought a newspaper on the way down & I at once gave it to Pss Christian saying I thought she would like to have the last news of the K of Sweden’s health. “What has happened” she said & so I explained that the King had suddenly had to have an operation for appendicitis—but was going on well. This put the whole party in a state of agitation & Princess Victoria at once telegraphed to the Q. of Sweden for news. Just before we went into dinner (8.15) the answer came that all was going on favorably. Thus in 2 hours the messages between England & Sweden had been exchanged. As soon as I had finished my cup of tea Princess Christian led me upstairs to my room & said “Take off our bonnet & then come into my sitting room & we will have a talk.” This I did & sat in an armchair beside the table at wh the Princess sat working. She was anxious to know what I had to tell her—& so I went into the business & said that Mary A. was a charming girl but owing to the simple & retired life she has always led, I thought she was not so suitable for the part of lady in waiting as another niece—Nela Du Cane who had known the Empress Frederic well, was a great friend of her daughters & had last summer acted in the capacity of Lady to Princess Victoria of Schaumberg Lippe—had travelled with me in India keeping all my accounts &c & had traveled alone for nearly 3 years in Australia. Pss Christian jumped at the idea & said that she was sure she would be just the person—that she wanted someone young eno’ to enter into the occupations of her daughter & be a pleasant companion & we sat talking it over till it was time to go to our rooms to dress for dinner. Old Prince Christian appeared at dinner & I sat next to him opposite Pss. Christian & her son. Champagne was offered to me & I unthinkingly accepted it—in truth I seldom drink it. I found out that I should not have done so as it was the old Princes’ special drink, but he very politely offered me a 2nd glass. We sat in the drawing room till abt 10.30 & then retired to bed. Miss Loch came to my bedroom to talk over the plan of Nela & to say how pleased she & the Princesses are at the suggestion. | |
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