Feb 2. British Embassy, Berlin. Dearest Mother. I expect Miss T. [Thomson] really is in Paris by this time and I shall again send my letter to London! We went to an amusing party at Frau von Rath's on Sunday evening - F. [Florence] and I Aunt Mary and Uncle Frank. A great number of little friends were there. It was by way of being a musical party, but the music was not quite a success for the singer, Vore[?] und zur Müllen was his name, had been rehearsing all morning and was so hoarse that he broke down after the second song and could sing no more. It was a pity for he seemed to have a magnificent voice. Our hostess would have done better to have given up music at that point, but she insisted upon various people playing and singing rather indifferently. However there were intervals in which we talked and at the end there was a regular square supper into which we marched two and two. A Herr von Schwerin who is in the F.O. here, took me in. He was agreeable and I was hungry so I rather enjoyed it. I made friends with Mr Gore, the man who is staying with the Harrachs. He is a cousin of Madame Blumenthal, and he is quite interesting. He has a sister who lives in Venice [Venezia] with whom Duse frequently stays and he told me a lot about the latter. I sat for some time with the eldest Szoegyenyi girl whom I like and the Prisoner of Zenda was very civil, but I don't care much for him. (His real name is Prince Radziwill) We came in and found Billy Gerald and Mr Acton playing at Baccarat, so in spite of the lateness of the hour, we joined in and played too for a little. Yesterday it was again very cold - 8° Réaumur. We drove out in the afternoon to the Westeisbahn where there is a lake which is beautifully kept. The ice was perfect. We found there the Harrachs, Arnims and some other people and all skated together for a couple of hours. It was amusing. This morning F and I went to a Probe of one of Joachim quartett concert. We heard a thing of Haydn's and a thing of Brahms': I loved both of them particularly the Brahms. There were not many people, mostly students of the Hoch Schule, and oh how those 4 men played! I don't think I ever enjoyed music more. Tell Maurice that I met Fräulein Trissie Batsch there! I was so surprised. I only saw her for a moment just as I was going out and I don't know where she is staying. This afternoon Madame Schwabach lent us her sledge and F and I went for a long drive - where do you think? In the Grünewald! You maligned the Grünewald - it is really a magnificent forest stretching for miles and miles. It looked too lovely under the snow. All the pine trees were covered with a thin white frost which gave them a sort of grizzled look - too delicious. Ever your affectionate daughter Gertrude
I was so glad to have Papa's letter - we should all love him to come here on the 25th. Aunt Mary hopes he will stay a few days and I hope he will take me home.