de Weyer and saw the Queen's train drive up. At the end of this
room are two doors: at the left hand everybody enters the next
apartment where the Queen and her suite stand, and after going round
the circle, come out at the right-hand door. After those who are
privileged to go FIRST into the ANTE-ROOM leave it, the general
circle pass in, and they also go in and out the same doors. But to
go back. The left-hand door opens and Sir Edward Cust leads in the
Countess Dietrichstein, who is the eldest Ambassadress, as the
Countess St. Aulair is in Paris. As she enters she drops her train
and the gentlemen ushers open it out like a peacock's tail. Then
Madam Van de Weyer, who comes next, follows close upon the train of
the former, then Baroness Brunnow, the Madam Bunsen, then Madam
Lisboa, then Lady Palmerston, who, as the wife of the Minister for
Foreign Affairs, is to introduce the Princess Callimachi, Baroness
de Beust, and myself. She stations herself by the side of the Queen
and names us as we pass. The Queen spoke to none of us, but gave me
a very gracious smile, and when Mr. Bancroft came by, she said: "I
am very glad to have had the pleasure of seeing Mrs. Bancroft to-
day." I was not [at] all frightened and gathered up my train with
as much self-possession as if I were alone. I found it very
entertaining afterward to watch the reception of the others. The
Diplomatic Corps remain through the whole, the ladies standing on
the left of the Queen and the gentlemen in the centre, but all
others pass out immediately. . . . On Sunday evening Mr. Bancroft
set off for Paris to pass the Easter recess of Parliament. . . . I
got a very interesting letter yesterday from Mr. Bancroft. It seems
that the Countess Circourt, whose husband has reviewed his book and
Prescott's, is a most charming person, and makes her house one of
the most brilliant and attractive in Paris. Since he left, a note
came from Mr. Hallam, the contents of which pleased me as they will