cabinet; I was not very keen about official life and foresaw a great deal that would be disagreeable.  Politics played such a part in social life.  All the “society,” the Faubourg St. Germain (which represents the old names and titles of France), was violently opposed to the Republic.  I was astonished the first years of my married life in France, to see people of certain position and standing give the cold shoulder to men they had known all their lives because they were Republicans, knowing them quite well to be honourable, independent gentlemen, wanting nothing from the Republic—­merely trying to do their best for the country.  I only realised by degrees that people held off a little from me sometimes, as the wife of a Republican deputy.  I didn’t care particularly, as I had never lived in France, and knew very few people, but it didn’t make social relations very pleasant, and I should have been better pleased if W. had taken no active part.  However, that feeling was only temporary.  I soon became keenly interested in politics (I suppose it is in the blood—­all the men in my family in America were politicians) and in the discussion of the various questions which were rapidly changing France into something quite different.  Whether the change has been for the better it would be hard to say even now, after more than thirty-five years of the Republic.

Freycinet was a great strength.  He was absolutely Republican, but moderate—­very clever and energetic, a great friend of Gambetta’s—­and a beautiful speaker.  I have heard men say who didn’t care about him particularly, and who were not at all of his way of thinking, that they would rather not discuss with him.  He was sure to win them over to his cause with his wonderful, clear persuasive arguments.

[Illustration:  Palace of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paris.]

The first days were very busy ones.  W. had to see all his staff (a very large one) of the Foreign Office, and organise his own cabinet.  He was out all day, until late in the evening, at the Quai d’Orsay; used to go over there about ten or ten-thirty, breakfast there, and get back for a very late dinner, and always had a director or secretary working with him at our own house after dinner.  I went over three or four times to inspect the ministry, as I had a presentiment we should end by living there.  The house is large and handsome, with a fine staircase and large high rooms.  The furniture of course was “ministerial”—­stiff and heavy—­gold-backed chairs and sofas standing in rows against the walls.  There were some good pictures, among others the “Congres de Paris,” which occupies a prominent place in one of the salons, and splendid tapestries.  The most attractive thing was a fine large garden at the back, but, as the living-rooms were up-stairs, we didn’t use it very much.  The lower rooms, which opened on the gardens, were only used as reception-rooms.  The minister’s cabinet was also down-stairs,