She wore flaxen braids wound above her ears, through which the cotton showed like the petal of a flower.  She had a lace cap on her head with long lace ends, and these caught in everything she wore—­her eye-glasses, her neck-chain, her rings and bracelets, and she seemed to do nothing but try to extricate herself while talking.  This she did steadily, in order (I suppose) to prevent any one else from talking.  She is so deaf that she cannot hear a word.  She had once been burned, and the effects of that, with the mark of former smallpox, makes her face look far from handsome.  But all these things have not prevented her from reaching the ripe old age of eighty.

Johan supplied what little there was of conversation on our side.  She asked him, “How did you come to Denmark?” He, enchanted to be asked something he could answer, replied that he had come on one of the big German boats, and, to accentuate the fact that it was something big he came in, he made a wide circular movement with his arms and became quite eloquent, flattering himself that he was very interesting.  The Princess fixed a pair of earnest eyes on him, and said, in hushed tones, “And what became of the child?”

We took our leave.  In stooping to kiss her Royal Highness’s hand her cap caught in an ornament I had on my bonnet, and there we stood tied together.  Johan tried in vain to undo us, but was obliged to call in the lady-in-waiting, who finally disentangled us.

DENMARK, January, 1878.

Dear Mother,—­The Queen of Denmark is an adorable and lovely queen.  I am happy to call her my Queen.

A few days after my audience we were invited to a dinner at Amalienborg.  We met in the salon, before their Majesties came in.  When they had made a little cercle and said a word to every one, dinner was announced.  The King gave one arm to the Queen and the other to the Princess Anne of Hesse—­the Queen’s sister-in-law.  The King and the Queen sat next to each other.  There were about forty people at table.  Admiral Bille took me in; he talked English perfectly, and was—­like all naval officers!—­very charming.

The Queen said to me:  “I should so like to hear you sing.  Will you come to-morrow?  I will send my carriage for you, and please don’t forget to bring some music.”

As if I should forget!  I was only too delighted.

The next morning the Queen sent her own coupe for me at eleven o’clock.  I felt very grand; all the people in the street bowed and courtesied, thinking I was one of the royal family.  I let down the glasses on both sides of the coupe so that every one could have a chance to bow.