Pray, dear Uncle, may I ask you a silly question ?--is not the Queen of Spain[8] rather clever?
You know her, and what do you think of her?
And do you know what sort of people are about poor little Queen Isabel ?[9] Poor, good Donna Maria! I feel much for her; her education was one of the worst that could be.

As long as those Ficalhos and Melos remain about her, nothing can be done.

Could they not be got rid of in time?
I was sorry to see that the French Chambers were rather stormy.[10] I thank you much for the list of the ball of the 18th, which must have been very splendid.

The last ball _I_ was at was our own, and I concluded that very ball at half-past three in the morning with a country dance, Albert being my partner.
Pray, dear Uncle, tell both young gentlemen, with my kindest love, that I _often_ think of that night and of many other pleasant evenings we passed together.

The singing will come all in time.