[Illustration: THE LATE KING'S RECEPTION-ROOM.
_From a Photo. by Gunn & Stuart, Richmond_.]

Leaving here, the first room I enter is the King's reception-room. This
is a very bright looking and expensively fitted apartment, furnished in
electric blue and gold, massive gold-framed panels, and a ceiling
decorated in relief with arms and mottoes in gold and white. The
chimney-piece is purest marble, the frescoes showing crowns, arms, etc.
The candelabra are over-burnished brass and Dresden china, some
being Japanese.

[Illustration: THE QUEEN'S BALL-ROOM.
_From a Photo. by Gunn & Stuart, Richmond._]

The next room is most interesting, for it is a small ball-room, the
ball-room in fact of Her Majesty the Queen. It has a beautiful inlaid
floor, a white ceiling worked in relief, crimson and gold curtains, and
furniture of the First Empire, some of it upholstered in gold silk, with
a variety of colours intermixed. Here are shown some priceless Sèvres
china, and a present of vases from the Emperor Napoleon. Also I note a
fine marble vase from the King's Palace in Luxemburg. On the wall are
some handsome gold-framed mirrors, and from the ceiling costly
chandeliers with two hundred and twenty lights. The mantel is
exquisitely carved marble, with an ormolu frieze. On one side you will
note a small piano; it is a French one, of very clear and fine tone, and
beautifully finished in every respect. In this room Her Majesty the
Queen may be imagined enjoying the balls given to the youthful
aristocracy, something different to the State dances in the larger room;
and, doubtless, by a long way, much more enjoyable. By the time the