She would not speak to "that woman," as she called the President's wife, nor be in her neighbourhood.

She would rather stay in her own room all the evening, and she did not care in the least what the Queen would think of it, for she was no subject of the Queen's.

The case was a hard one for Lord Skye, who was perplexed to know, from this point of view, why he was entertaining the Princess at all; but, with the help of the Grand-Duke and Lord Dunbeg, who was very active and smiled deprecation with some success, he found a way out of it; and this was the reason why there were two thrones in the ball-room, and why the British throne was lighted with such careful reference to the Princess's complexion.

Lord Skye immolated himself in the usual effort of British and American Ministers, to keep the two great powers apart.

He and the Grand-Duke and Lord Dunbeg acted as buffers with watchful diligence, dexterity, and success.