I told her that I would try. She was profuse in her thanks in anticipation, but, alas! Mr. Longfellow, when I spoke to him, turned a cold shoulder on the idea. He begged me to assure Sarah Bernhardt nothing would have given him more pleasure, but, with a playful wink, "I am leaving for Portland in a few days, and I am afraid she will have left Boston when I come back"--thus cutting the Gordian (k)_not_ with a snap. But, evidently regretting his curtness, he said, "Tell her if she is at liberty to-morrow I will offer her a cup of tea." Then he added: "You must come and chaperon me. It would not do to leave me alone with such a dangerous and captivating visitor." He invited Mr. Howells and Oliver Wendell Holmes to meet her. I wrote to Sarah Bernhardt what the result of my interview was and gave the invitation. She sent back a short "I will come." The next afternoon I met her at Mr. Longfellow's. When we were drinking our tea she said, "_Cher_ M. Longfellow, I would like so much to have made your bust, but I am so occupied that I really have not the time." And he answered her in the most suave manner, "I would have been delighted to sit for you, but, unfortunately, I am leaving for the country to-morrow." How clever people are! Mr. Longfellow speaks French like a native. He said: "I saw you the other evening in 'Phèdre.' I saw Rachel in it fifty years ago, but you surpass her. You are magnificent, for you are _plus vivante_. I wish I could make my praises vocal--_chanter vos louanges_." "I wish that you could make _me_ vocal," she said. "How much finer my Phèdre would be if I could sing, and not be obliged to depend upon some horrible soprano behind the scenes!" "You don't need any extra attraction," Mr. Longfellow said. "I wish I could make you feel what I felt." "You can," she said, "and you do--by your poetry." "Can you read my poetry?" "Yes. I read your 'He-a-vatere.'" "My--Oh yes--'Hiawatha.' But you surely do not understand that?" "Yes, yes, indeed I do," she said. "_Chaque mot_." [Illustration: HENRY W. LONGFELLOW] [Illustration: JAMES G. BLAINE When Speaker of the House of Representatives.] "You are wonderful," he said, and fearing that she might be tempted to recite "_chaque mot_" of his "Hiawatha," hastened to present Mr. Holmes, who was all attention. At last the tea-party came to an end. We all accompanied her to her carriage, and as she was about to get in she turned with a sudden impulse, threw her arms round Mr. Longfellow's neck, and said, "_Vous étes adorable_," and kissed him on his cheek. He did not, seem displeased, but as she drove away he turned to me and said, "You see I did need a chaperon."