1857]	FOREIGN LIFE	439
both Sheffield and me as ill as a sea-voyage. Laxenburg was the palace of Maria Theresa, and has an English Park, only the grounds are full of gothic temples, &c., and an imitation dungeon fortress, with an imitation prisoner in it, who lifts his hands beseechingly and rattles his chains as you approach. Princess Charlotte was to have her first meeting with all the imperial family in the afternoon, and we waited for the public appearance of the royalties after dinner. We saw them emerge from the palace, and then ran down to the lake,to see them embark. The imperial party arrived in carriages at the water's edge, and were set down under some old plane-trees, where their barges were ready, with, rowers in sailors' dresses. First came the .Empress, looking very lovely and charming, bowing her way to her own boat, which was distinguished by its blue cloth linings. Then came the Kmperor, run-nitt(j as hard as he could, to be in time to hand her in: then sweet-looking Princess Charlotte, with, a radiantly happy and not at all a shy expression; the mother of the Empress; Princess Marguerite; the Queen of Saxony; and the Archduchess Albreeht. All these entered the imperial boat, which was followed by another with three old countesses, and then all. the court ladies in other boats. The Emperor and the Archdukes Leopold and Ileinrich rowed themselves. There could hardly be a prettier scene — no crowd, no staring, and sunset on. the water as the little ileet glided in among the cypress-covered islets. The last I saw of them was one of the princesses seizing hold of the old countesses' boat, and. rocking it/ violently to give them a good fright.
^u Throughout our travels we have perpetually fallen in with two solitary ladies. Yesterday one of them said to Duckworth, •• I beg your pardon, perhaps I ought not to ask, but the melancholy gentleman (meaning me) must have had a very severe disappointment; was it recent? — he seems to take on very much. Well, my idea is one