OUR

   
  
 
      
 

to re-tie his necktie for him. When the two Princes
returned from their travels, which all the world
has read of, they brought “ Old Satan ” a couple of
‘ostrich’s eggs from Jerusalem, which Prince George
declared he had actually seen laid! The eggs, duly
mounted on appropriate stands, occupy a promi-
nent position in the pretty drawing-room of the
agent’s house. This house is a sort of common
ground to our royal neighbors. Standing in the
quaint entrance hall with its mistress, it is easy to
conjure up some of the many pictures of royal in-
~ vasions as she describes them. First, the Princess
and her dogs enter on some windy November day
amidst a splash of rain, and a whirl of dry leaves.
-.. Then, some of the children come clamouring for
“ Beck,” suppressing the nickname in the presence
- of their mother. Or the Prince rides up to the door
~ with the same demand. From the frequent calls
upon him, one would imagine that nothing could
‘.. be done successfully unless Beck is to the fore.

_ And then those Christmases at Sandringham! In
November they entertain the county at a succession
-. of balls for gentry, tenants, and servants. The

old hall is ablaze with lights, long processions of
_’. earriages roll down the avenue, merry music sounds,

oe and all is mirth—to the royal party at any rate,
, though many a young and awkward little country
_ débutante may shiver and shake in her shoes at the
thought of entering the awful presence of royalty.
Not so her elders, however, for to this end have
they schemed and contrived, and burned with envy
of more fortunate neighbors who, for a succession
of seasons have had the entree of Sandringham.
_ But the height of their anibition is attained at last,
_the magic bidding has been given and here they
‘are, shivering amidst their furs, for the snow lies
. white without the carriage windows (the first snow
_ of the season generally falls on the night of the
Sandringham ball), but what matter cold and fatigue
“since this night will set the seal to their social po-
~ sition.

Christmas at Sandringham is essentially a home
Christmas, a celebration of the great and univer-
sal children’s day, for, and with the royal children.
There are always Christmas-Tree parties, and
dances, and theatricals, at some of which little
friends of my own are accustomed to meet the three
young Princesses, “And what do they say to
you?” I asked one of them, with great gravity.

ROYAL NEIGHBORS AT SANDRINGHAM.

Il5

“O, they just ask the same questions that other
children do, only more of them. They want to
know what we do at school, what lessons we have
to learn, what we have to eat, and all that sort of
thing, you know. But they seem most curious about
school, because they cannot quite imagine what ‘go-
ing to school, is like.’ ”

But when Christmas night settles down over the
great heath which lies all around and about Sand-
ringham, and darkness clouds the distant sea;
when there is an icy edge to the keen air, and the
stars shine out with extra brightness ; when there
is warmth on every hearth in all the model cot-
tages, and only the churches stand dark and still
in the cold winter night, how redly the lights gleam
behind all the windows of the Hall! Every one out-
side has been cared for, many a happy Christmas
has been made secure, and now the Prince and
Princess keep theirs lightheartedly with their chil-
dren and guests. The two tall striplings — for they
are almost young men now— Prince Eddy, and
Prince George, rush forward in friendly rivalry to
secure the honor of conducting their mother to din-
ner. They are almost like lovers — those two tall
youths —so passionately are they devoted to the
beautiful and young-looking “Sea-King’s Daughter .
from over the sea.” Neither being first, and neither
winning preference, the Princess goes gayly to the
dining-hall between them. After them comes the
Prince with his bonny group of daughters; the por-
traits given here of the young princesses are from
home photographs. There has been a distribu-
tion of gifts at the breakfast table in the morning,
and you may be sure that “Old Satan” had re-
ceived his usual summons up to the Hall to get
something very especial. And after dinner comes
the frolic. Snap-dragon has been one of the favor-
ite amusements, but so serious did it like to prove
one year that I do not believe it still continues in
favor. Some of the burning spirit fell upon the
dress of the Princess who might have been badly
burnt but for the presence of mind of Sir Dykin
Probyn, who promptly extinguished it.

So time passes with our royal neighbors, and the
years rollon. God grant that many more have yet
to pass before they will be called upon to give up
their cosey home at Sandringham to enter upon the
greater splendour of the Throne.