Another one which amused us says “the bride is to be congratulated on having annexed as fine a specimen of a viking as any one could desire, and, although she has not secured a golden crown for her marble brow, she has secured a name that ought to be good for a ‘three-bagger’ on any diamond, and that just to see it written on a hotel register makes any hotel clerk faint.”  Johan asked me what a “three-bagger” was, but I could not tell him.  Then the worst one!  “Mr. de Hegermann is envoy extraordinary and parson to his Danish ‘nibs.’” Johan was horrified at this lese majeste.  We looked the word “nibs” out in the dictionary, only to find that in cribbage “nibs” means the knave of trumps.  This made matters worse; to call his sovereign a knave—­even of trumps—­seemed too disrespectful.

It was very nice of Norris, your Cambridge grocer, to placard the fruit in his shop window in our honor.  “Lindencrone beauties” and “the Danish pair” show a certain amount of humor which ought to be applauded.  Such a pun goes to my heart.  I hope you encouraged him by buying them all and can tell me what a “Danish pair” looks like.

It would take more than one letter of mine written on foolscap paper to tell you of our colleagues and friends.  I can do it in sections when I have time.  But, oh, when can I get the time!

* * * * *

I have had my “audience” (Johan calls it an “audience”; I call it a “call on Mrs. President Grant at the White House").  There was nothing formal or formidable about it.  Mrs. Grant and I sat on the sofa together and talked generalities.  Johan could not tell me what to expect.  He said his audience with the President had been a surprise, unprecedented by anything he had ever seen.  As it was his first post as Minister, he had pictured to himself that it would be somewhat like the ceremonies abroad—­very solemn and impressive.  Of course he was in his red gala uniform, with all his decorations.  A hired landau brought him to the steps of the White House, which he mounted with conscious dignity.  His written speech, nicely folded, he carried in his hand.  In Europe there would have been a crowd of gorgeous chamberlains to receive him, but here he found a negro, who, on seeing him, hurriedly donned a coat and, with an encouraging wave of the hand, said:  “Come right along in, sir.  I’ll let them know you’re here, sir.”  Johan was shown into a room and waited with patience until the President and Mr. Hamilton Fish came in.  Mr. Grant was dressed in a gray walking-suit and wore a colored tie; and Mr. Hamilton Fish (Secretary of State) had evidently just come in from a walk, as his turned-up trousers signified.

Johan read his speech, and the President answered by reading, with some difficulty, a paper which Mr. Fish handed to him at the last moment.  After this exchange of formalities Johan shook hands with the President, and without further ceremony he left the room, the door this time being opened by a white servant in black clothes.  Mr. Fish at parting casually observed that the weather was fine.