“Don’t think me very egotistical, but don’t expect me to summon a committee for the Prize Day again. “I shall quietly go my own way now, and _do_ the things. That last committee took up two hours and twenty-five minutes of my time in the middle of the day, and for what? (I told you two hours, but made a mistake.) “I forgot to say I went to the printer, ordered all the invitations, and expect them on Monday. But Willis’ Rooms, though handsome, are _not large_. With every card we will send out the slip about Princess Louise’s failure in her engagement.” The meeting went off as well as these meetings always did. But next year the Princess Mary of Teck was secured without difficulty; as well as afterwards several other members of the Royal Family, including even the Prince and Princess of Wales. It must have been at this period that an equally characteristic little story is told. Miss Buss, in the height of her vexation, sought comfort beside her sister and her boy. As she entered the room, she exclaimed, “_This_ is what I have brought on myself, and _for what_?” with an impatient stamp of her foot. Baby Frank lifted his great eyes solemnly to his aunt, and, with a deliberate stamp of his baby foot, echoed, “And for vot?” on which, as she clasped him in her arms, all her indignation vanished in a shower of kisses. But that she did not demand mere acquiescence from her friends is proved by many of her letters, one of which may be given, not only as showing her many-sidedness, but also as revealing the true humility which was the secret of her strength. She had been long overstrained by anxiety and suspense, and had to some extent lost patience under the many demands on her. At one time, indeed, she even entertained serious thoughts of resigning her post unless things could be made easier for her by the assurance of greater freedom of action. On the occasion of this particular letter, the usual talk had failed, and I must have written that same evening still more strongly, urging either a more complete submission to the inevitable, or else some bold stroke for liberty. She thus responds— “Late as it is, and in spite of a distressing headache, I must just write a few words to say how much I love and thank you for your note. The advice in it I will try to follow. “Yet, dearest Annie, it tears me in pieces to have to be always asserting myself. But it seems to me to be impossible to go on without a certain amount of freedom of action. “Dearest Annie, I sobbed myself to sleep like a child, such a thing not having occurred for years. The Mystery of Pain!—if it were a clear duly to bear it, I would go through anything, but I cannot see the duty, and can feel the pain....