Volltext Seite (XML)
chap. xy. PORTRAITS OP THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS. 413 said it was so like,—it was the princess herself,—the attend ants asked me if they might see it. I was obliged, however, to refuse their request for fear of accident. I told the princess I would take a full-length portrait if she wished it; and, as they both expressed the pleasure it would give them, I prepared one of my large plates,—fifteen inches by twelve,—and, having fixed a sort of temporary head-rest, succeeded in obtaining a very passable negative, with which, when they saw it developed, they were still more delighted than with the smaller picture. When it was thoroughly washed, I was obliged to take it to the door to let the attend ants look at it; the quickness and quietness with which it had been done seemed so inexplicable to them, that their curiosity was irrepressible. I then told my visitors that if they wished it, I could take both their portraits together in one picture. • They expressed their pleasure at the proposal, and I prepared accordingly. On this occasion the prince wore a uniform, blue faced with red, and ornamented with gold. He wore also a star, and the national belt of scarlet, yellow, and green. When the prince came out of the house where he had retired with the princess, I noticed that, instead of holding his hat in his hand, he had taken up a book which was lying on my table, and I was pleased with the intimation which this conveyed, and which was well understood. When I told them to stand in the position they would most prefer, the prince took the arm of the princess within his own, saying that was the manner in which they walked together. When I had ad justed the camera, exposed the plate, and we proceeded to the dark room, their previous wonder seemed far surpassed, as they looked and saw themselves gradually developing side by side, with all the accessories and details. The dis tinctness of the tones in the princess’s necklace, and the bouquet in her hand, with the strong relief of the star in the