[Footnote 124:  By Hans Andersen; an English translation by Mary Howitt was published in 1845.]

[Footnote 125:  Duchesses in the French court had the privilege of seating themselves on a tabouret or stool while the King took his meals; hence the droit du tabouret comes to mean the rank of a duchess.]

To Mrs. Martin Saturday, January 1844 [should be 1845].[126]

I must tell you, my dearest Mrs. Martin, Mr. Kenyon has read to me an extract from a private letter addressed by H. Martineau to Moxon the publisher, to the effect that Lord Morpeth was down on his knees in the middle of the room a few nights ago, in the presence of the somnambule J., and conversing with her in Greek and Latin, that the four Miss Liddels were also present, and that they five talked to her during one seance in five foreign languages, viz.  Latin, Greek, French, Italian, and German.  When the mesmeriser touches the organ of imitation on J.’s head, while the strange tongue is in the course of being addressed to her, she translates into English word for word what is said; but when the organ of language is touched, she simply answers in English what is said.

My ‘few words of comment’ upon this are, that I feel to be more and more standing on my head—­which does not mean, you will be pleased to observe, that I understand.

Well, and how are you both going on?  My voice is quite returned; and papa continues, I am sorry to say, to have a bad cold and cough.  He means to stay in the house to-day and try what prudence will do.

We have heard from Henry, at Alexandria still, but a few days before sailing, and he and Stormie are bringing home, as a companion to Flushie, a beautiful little gazelle.  What do you think of it?  I would rather have it than the ‘babby,’ though the flourish of trumpets on the part of the possessors seems quite in favor of the latter.

And I had a letter from Browning the poet last night, which threw me into ecstasies—­Browning, the author of ‘Paracelsus,’ and king of the mystics.

[The rest of this letter is missing.]

[Footnote 126:  The mention of her brothers being at Alexandria is sufficient to show that 1845 must be the true date.]

To Mrs. Martin Saturday, January 1845.

My dearest Mrs. Martin,—­I believe our last letters crossed, and we might draw lots for the turn of receiving one, so that you are to take it for supererogatory virtue in me altogether if I begin to write to you as ‘at these presents.’  But I want to know how you both are, and if your last account may continue to be considered the true one.  You have been poising yourself on the equal balance of letters, as weak consciences are apt to do, but I write that you may write, and also, a little, that I may thank you for the kindness of your last letter, which was so very kind.