Feb 10 British Embassy, Berlin. Dearest Mother. I enclose you an account of the ball which will amuse you. It was a great success and very splendid. There was a fearful crowd at first - the princesses got dreadfully in the way as we were supposed not to bump into them which was almost impossible to avoid. I saw Schulenborg, the Vortänzer, following Princess Aribert round and saying in agonised tones "Achtung! Prinzessin!!" Mr Gore took me in to supper and made himself very agreeable, and I danced the Cotillon with a Herr von Mirbach who is in the F.O. and whom I like. Florence and I were of course (as it was in our own house) covered with bows and loaded with flowers. There were supper tables in all the drawing rooms - it looked extremely nice. Our little friends went away about 3, after which we and the Secretaries and the Vortänzer sat down to a final supper in the drawing room. Next morning when I came down (at 12) everything was back in its place - the servants do things admirably here. Aunt Mary was very tired yesterday; she slept most of the day and was much better when she came down to dinner. Today she is all right. We skated yesterday afternoon with a great party of people. I went to tea with Marie von Bunsen and stayed till past 7. She is most interesting to talk to and she showed me besides a lot of beautiful Klinger etchings and mezzotints which she has and told me a great deal about modern German painters. I really feel as if, thanks to her, I shall begin to know something about them before I leave. She is most friendly. I shall be awfully disappointed if Papa does not come. He can certainly go to the last Court ball if he is here and if he can't stay so long I will gladly come away with him whenever he goes. Do try and make him come. I am beginning to look forward to coming home again! There is a regular thaw today. I spent most of the morning at the Museum. Tonight is a Court ball and this afternoon the Durbar. Ever your affectionate daughter Gertrude