These were Diana's weapons.
She was perforce the actress of her part.
In happier times, when light of heart and natural, her vogue had not been so enrapturing.

Doubtless Cleopatra in her simple Egyptian uniform would hardly have won such plaudits as her stress of barbaric Oriental splendours evoked for her on the swan and serpent Nile-barge--not from posterity at least.

It is a terrible decree, that all must act who would prevail; and the more extended the audience, the greater need for the mask and buskin.
From Lady Pennon's table Diana passed to Lady Crane's, Lady Esquart's, Lady Singleby's, the Duchess of Raby's, warmly clad in the admiration she excited.

She appeared at Princess Therese Paryli's first ball of the season, and had her circle, not of worshippers only.

She did not dance.
The princess, a fair Austrian, benevolent to her sisterhood, an admirer of Diana's contrasting complexion, would have had her dance once in a quadrille of her forming, but yielded to the mute expression of the refusal.