The King and his four sons and gentlemen and ladies belonging to the court and society quite filled the room appropriated to royalty in Stockholm station.

The train steamed in, and steps were placed at the door of the car.  The Crown Princess descended, followed by the Crown Prince, Prince Christian, Princess Louise (the eldest daughter), and Prince Hans (the King of Denmark’s brother).

There was a great deal of kissing.  The Princess was beaming with joy, and said a word to every one.

The dinner at court was at six.  It was a family dinner, and as such the Queen was able to be present.  As a rule, she is not present at large dinners, because of her health.  The King gave his arm to our Princess, the Crown Prince took the Queen.  Prince Carl gave me his arm and put me on the left of the King.

During the repast the King asked me if I had read his book of travels.  I regretted to say that I had not.  Then he called his chasseur, who always stands behind his chair, and told him to beg the adjutant to see that a copy of the book should be sent to me.

He talked a great deal of Paris, of his admiration for the Empress Eugenie, and how he had enjoyed his visit during the Exposition of 1867.  He said, “Do you remember our excursion in my little boat when you, the Princess Mathilde, and Marquis Callifet did me the honor to come with me?”

“Yes, I remember very well, but I think the honor was on our side.”

“Do you remember,” he said, “the guitar, and those delightful songs you sang—­’Beware?’ Do you remember?”

I remembered, certainly, and wondered if I had ever sung anything else in my life.

“And our going to the Rothschilds’ place near Boulogne,” he continued, “where the porter refused to let us enter the park?”

“Yes,” I replied.  “But when he heard who you were all the doors were thrown wide open.”

“Those were pleasant days,” the King said with a sigh of recollection.  “I was a good friend of yours, and never will I change.”

“I hope you never will, your Majesty.”

“Never,” he said.  “When once I am a friend, I am a friend for always, and I shall always be a good friend to you.”  And, taking up my hand from the table, he kissed it—­a most embarrassing moment for me!

* * * * *

Our ball was a great success.  Perhaps you don’t know how festivities belonging to royal visits are managed.  Entertainments are prearranged three or four weeks before the arrival of the royal guests.

I had never entertained royalty before, therefore I was naturally rather nervous.  I sent to Nice for kilos of flowers, and to Rome for mosaic brooches and little fiaschettis, which I filled with perfume.  I sent to Paris for canes and card-cases and silver pencils, and arranged a surprise for my guests.  This was a fancy-dress quadrille, to be danced by sixteen young people at the beginning of the cotillon.  Four couples were dressed as shepherds and shepherdesses in different-colored satins, with powdered hair and bright ribbons.  The other four were dressed as incroyables.