Alix von Cotta to Nelly

Cotta writing from Berlin. Delighted with the news of her friend coming to Berlin in the Christmas holidays but on going to Frl.Kustein to arrange about a room found that it was already booked and impossible to put up anyone in their own house, but she still hopes. Her little friend left for Silesia but will be leading 'a vagrant life' with an invalid sister. She had the honour of being asked to tea by Empress Frederick 'these tea parties are the stiffest and the dullest affairs one can imagine' but to be borne for the sake of the Lyceum.