Page:Life in Mexico vol 2.djvu/46

26 order to mark Queen Ysabel's Day with a diplomatic dinner.

Though less is now said on the subject of the pamphlet than when we left this, the irritation seems to continue as before. Señor Gutierrez remains concealed, communicating only with his family and a few devoted friends; a most disagreeable position, and one which it is impossible for him to endure long.

20th.—Our dinner has gone off as well as could be expected. The party were twenty-six in number, consisting of His Grace the Archbishop, their Excellencies of the Cabinet and Corps Diplomatique, together with Count Cortina, the Valencias, and Gorostizas. The gentlemen were in full uniform—the ladies en grande toilette—the Archbishop in his robes. We had a band of music in the gallery, and walked in to the sound of the Norma, precedence being given to the Archbishop, who took me, or rather whom I took, as I found some difficulty in getting my arm into his robes. I believe no blunders in etiquette were committed. The dinner lasted three and a half mortal hours. The Archbishop proposed the health of Her Majesty the Queen, which was drank standing, the band performing God save the Queen. I was dreadfully tired, (though in a very agreeable position) and have no doubt every one else was the same, it being eleven when we returned to the drawing-room.

The Archbishop's familiars, two priests who always accompany him, respectable black guards, were already in waiting. As for him, he was as kind and agreeable as usual, and, after coffee, took his departure to the sound of music.