I informed him that I was and exactly what I thought of the Tory party; and we talked through the rest of dinner. Towards the end of our conversation he asked me who I was. I told him that, after his manners to me in the earlier part of the evening, it was perhaps better that we should remain strangers. However, after a little chaff, we made friends and he said that he would come and see me in Grosvenor Square.
On the night of the supper-party, I was wearing a white muslin dress with transparent chemise sleeves, a fichu and a long skirt with a Nattier blue taffeta sash. I had taken a bunch of rose carnations out of a glass and pinned them into my fichu with three diamond ducks given me by Lord Carmichael, our delightful Peeblesshire friend and neighbour.
On my arrival at the Churchills’, I observed all the fine ladies wearing ball-dresses off the shoulder and their tiaras. This made me very conspicuous and I wished profoundly that I had changed into something smarter before going out.
The Prince of Wales had not arrived and, as our hostess was giving orders to the White Hungarian Band, my father and I had to walk into the room alone.
I saw several of the ladies eyeing my toilette, and having painfully sharp ears I heard some of their remarks:
“Do look at Miss Tennant! She is in her night-gown!”
“I suppose it is meant to be ‘ye olde Englishe pictury!’ I wonder she has not let her hair down like the Juliets at the Oakham balls!”
Another, more charitable, said:
“I daresay no one told her that the Prince of Wales was coming. ... Poor child! What a shame!”
And finally a man said:
“There is nothing so odd as the passion some people have for self-advertisement; it only shows what it is to be intellectual!”
At that moment our hostess came up to us with a charming accueil.
The first time I saw Lady Randolph was at Punchestown races, in 1887, where I went with my new friends, Mrs. Bunbury, Hatfield Harter and Peter Flower. I was standing at the double when I observed a woman next to me in a Black Watch tartan skirt, braided coat and astrachan hussar’s cap. She had a forehead like a panther’s and great wild eyes that looked through you; she was so arresting that I followed her about till I found some one who could tell me who she was.
Had Lady Randolph Churchill been like her face, she could have governed the world.
My father and I were much relieved at her greeting; and while we were talking the Prince of Wales arrived. The ladies fell into position, ceased chattering and made subterranean curtsies. He came straight up to me and told me I was to sit on the other side of him at supper. I said, hanging my head with becoming modesty and in a loud voice:
“Oh no, Sir, I am not dressed at all for the part! I had better slip away, I had no notion this was going to be such a smart party ... I expect some of the ladies here think I have insulted them by coming in my night-gown!”