“Il y a longtemps que je cachais au fonds de mon coeur le desir de posseder votre portrait, qui, interressant pour le monde, est devenu precieux pour moi, puisque j’ai le plaisir de vous connaitre telle que vous etes, bonne, simple, bienveillante, et loin de tout ce qui effroie et eloigne des reputations literaires.  Je remercie M. Hervieu de Tavoir fait aussi ressemblant.  Et je vous assure, chere Madame Trollope, que rien ne pouvait me toucher aussi vivement et me faire autant de plaisir que ce souvenir venant de vous, qui me rappelera sans cesse les bons moments que j’ai eu la satisfaction de passer avec vous et qui resteront a jamais cheres a ma memoire.

“MELANIE, PRINCESSE DE METTERNICH.”

* * * * *

I think that the hours passed by the Princess and my mother tete-a-tete, save for the presence of the artist occupied by his work during the painting of the Princess Melanie’s portrait for my mother, were mainly the cause of the real intimacy of mind and affection which grew up between them—­though, of course, the painting of the portrait shows that a considerable intimacy had previously arisen.  And it had been arranged that the portrait of my mother, which was the occasion of the above letter, should be exchanged for that of the Princess.  But there had been no time amid the whirl of the Vienna gaieties to get it executed.  It was, therefore, sent from England by Baron Huegel when he called on my mother, on visiting this country shortly after her return from Austria.

It occurs to me here to mention a circumstance which was, I think, the first thing to begin—­not the acquaintance but—­the intimacy in question; and which may be related as possessing an interest not confined to either of the ladies in question.

The Archduchess Sophie had graciously intimated her desire that my mother should be presented to her, and an evening had been named for the purpose.  But a few days before—­just three, if I remember rightly—­my mother caught a cold, which resulted in erysipelas, causing her head to become swollen to nearly double its usual size!  Great was the dismay of the ladies who had arranged the meeting with the Archduchess, chief among whom had been the Princess Melanie.  She came to my mother, and insisted upon sending to her an old homoeopathic physician, who was her own medical attendant, and had been Hahnemann’s favourite pupil.  He came, saw his patient, and was told that what he had to do was to make her presentable by the following Friday!  He shook his head, said the time was too short—­but he would do his best.  And the desired object was fully attained.

I have no doubt that my mother returned from her Vienna visit a more strongly convinced Conservative in politics than she had hitherto been.  And it does not seem to me that the modification of her opinions in that direction, which was doubtless largely operated by conversation with the great Conservative statesman and his alter ego, the Princess, needs to be in any degree attributed to the “graciousness” of people in high position either male or female.  Is it not very intelligible and very likely that such opinions, so set forth, as she from day to day heard them, should have honestly and legitimately influenced her own?