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29 February 1912 — Rome | |
Thursday. 29th [February 1912]. Marchesa Capelli called to take me out in her motor & brought me back to the Palace about 11.30. When I got inside the door of the house I found myself in a chapel all prepared for mass—women in black arranged all in rows. I moved forward to the left & there found the major domo who said the Queen was just coming down to hear mass so I retreated to the far end of the chapel—& at that moment the Queen came down & looked surprised at seeing me—but as she made me a sign to follow her I did so & was given a seat next the Dss Laterano. The priest was in a splendid garment of purple velvet with shining embroideries—the accolytes in purple velvet gowns under their white surplices—all had splendid lace borders to their surplices– When the mass was over the Queen thanked me for coming—which added to my confusion as I had no idea what was the occasion of this mass– Later in the day I was told that as King Umberto had been killed on 29th of July the Queen has mass said on the 29th of each month for the repose of his soul. After mass the Queen took me upstairs with her in the lift, she got out on the 1st floor & I went up to my rooms to take off my bonnet & came quickly back for luncheon. Count & Css Pasolini came to that meal & after it the Count read out to us a lecture he is about to deliver on “Byron at Ravenna.” He delivered it very pleasantly & it was most interesting. He ended it by saying that Byron had written a poem while on the Tomb of Faust—a prophesy on the liberation of Italy which ends by saying that possibly at that moment the man was being born who would bring the liberty of Italy—by a curious coincidence at the day & year was born Victor Emanuel! The Queen looked up with surprise & delight & we all broke out with exclamations of wonder. It was curious to see the effect of this on the daughter in law of the very Victor Emanuel. At 2.30 the Queen rose & left & we dispersed. I went to the Villa Malta to see Da Laura & drove with her in her carriage. She took me to a shop to look for a frame for Lord Kitchener which we found & also a large choir book which he wants to stand on the big lectern I got for him at Bologna. I then accompanied her home & walked back here to this house. Dinner at 8.30 & bed at 11.30. | |
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