Letters of a Diplomat's Wife, 1883-1900Waddington, Mary King
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Letters of a Diplomat's Wife, 1883-1900
Waddington, Mary King
Europe -- Social life and customs
It is still very cold, snow lying on the ground (in the parks), which is
rare in London. I have just had a little note from Princess Mary, asking
me to come and see her on Sunday at White Lodge, as she leaves early in
the week for the Riviera. Wolff came in late to ask me if I would take
him out to White Lodge, as Princess Mary had also written to him to
come. He had his violin, so he played for about an hour, and most
enchanting it was. I occasionally forgot about the accompaniment,
listening to his beautiful long notes. He didn't mind, was standing in
the middle of the room (playing by heart) and went on quite serenely
until I caught him up somewhere and went on again. I dined quietly with
Jean (as W. had a man's dinner at one of the clubs) and we made music
all the evening. She is very busy translating a German book, Lady
Blennerhasset's "Life of Madame de Stael." It looked easy at first, but
I fancy is rather a formidable undertaking, as Lady B. has a very
distinct style--very German, and I should think it must lose in
translation. She had rather come to grief over one page. I looked over
it, and said I didn't find it _very_ difficult, and I know German well,
upon which she replied, "Please read it out to me, then, in good
English." I began, but came to grief at once. I had got the meaning
right enough in my head, but couldn't at all express it at once in
correct or fluent English, and I don't know that a dictionary would have
helped me much. It was more the turn of the phrase and a peculiar form
of expression.
Sunday, February 21, 1892.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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