British Embassy, Berlin. Monday Dearest Mother. Now I wonder if this will catch you in London! We have been skating all the afternoon with surprising energy and I am rather tired. There were a great many of our little friends there. My little Eulenborg girl, who is a little dear, skated about with me. Her step-mother and father are just being divorced, poor little dear, and she doesn't go out into the world and looks very unhappy. There is rather a nice Arnim girl whom I helped with her outside edge and who was very grateful in consequence. A very ridiculous thing happened - I had retired into a secluded and put my muff down to make a centre round which to skate a figure, when suddenly I was aware of a short fat German gentleman arriving into the middle of my figure on his back! He picked up my muff and himself and handed them both to me, so to speak, with a low bow! There is a great deal of snow. We propose if the frost last making a big party, sledging down to Potsdam and skating there. I hope it will come off, it would be very amusing. The streets are full of sledges, it looks so nice.
You do know the Schloss; Aunt Mary says you were taken all round it when you were here. Don't you remember a great big white and gold room with a gallery round the top? That is where we had supper the other night and where we are to dance on the 3rd. We shall have 3 court balls, but we are not to be prayed to the fancy dress ball. I'm rather glad for the dresses are to be most elaborate and will be very expensive. I am having my train made up as I have only one Hofschmitt gown and I shall have to wear it at the Gala Opera as well as the balls. Please tell Grandmamma the piece of brocade was here after all. I wonder if I left a sachet of gloves at 95? Would you mind asking Anna. If she sent it home, will you please tell Lizzie to post it to the F.O. addressed to me here. I shall want the gloves in it. We paid a lot of calls yesterday afternoon: the Greindls (Swiss Colleagues) where I was rather amused talking to an Eulenborg hussar, son of the Hof Marschall; the Von der Gröbens (Germans) and the Jacksons (Americans). Calling always entertains me. Aunt Mary and I went for a walk this morning; it was bitter cold 23° Fahrenheit, with a wind. One doesn't get warm unless one skates. Colonel Grierson dined last night and we all played patiences till past 12. Love to everyone at 95. Ever your affectionate daughter Gertrude