Sir William Hamilton's sister had some
specimens in the book, and also Lady Herschel and her brother.
Lady Herschel is the head of the house--so is Mrs. Airy--so, I
suspect, is the wife in all well-ordered households! I perceived
that Sir John did not take a cup of tea until his wife said,
"You can have some, my dear."
Mr. Airy waits and waits, and then says, "My dear, I shall lose
all my flesh if I don't have something to eat and drink."
I am hoping to get to Paris next week, about the 23d. I have had
just what I wanted in England, as to society.
"November 26. A few days ago I received a card, 'Mrs. Baden Powell, at
home November 25.' Of course I did not know if it was a tea party or a
wedding reception. So I appealed to Mrs. Airy. She said, 'It is a London
rout. I never went to one, but you'll find a crowd and a good many
interesting people.'
"I took a cab, and went at nine o'clock. The servant who opened the door
passed me to another who showed me the cloak-room. The girl who took my
shawl numbered it and gave me a ticket, as they would at a public
exhibition. Then she pointed to the other end of the room, and there I
saw a table with tea and coffee. I took a cup of coffee, and then the
servant asked my name, _yelled_ it up the stairs to another, and he
announced it at the drawing-room door just as I entered.
"Mrs. Powell and the professor were of course standing near, and Mrs.
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