queen victoria-第19章

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IV

The　early　discords　had　passed　away　completelyresolved　into　the　absolute　harmony　of　married　life。　Victoria；　overcome　by　a　new；　an　unimagined　revelation；　had　surrendered　her　whole　soul　to　her　husband。　The　beauty　and　the　charm　which　so　suddenly　had　made　her　his　at　first　were；　she　now　saw；　no　more　than　but　the　outward　manifestation　of　the　true　Albert。　There　was　an　inward　beauty；　an　inward　glory　which；　blind　that　she　was；　she　had　then　but　dimly　apprehended；　but　of　which　now　she　was　aware　in　every　fibre　of　her　beinghe　was　goodhe　was　great！　How　could　she　ever　have　dreamt　of　setting　up　her　will　against　his　wisdom；　her　ignorance　against　his　knowledge；　her　fancies　against　his　perfect　taste？　Had　she　really　once　loved　London　and　late　hours　and　dissipation？　She　who　now　was　only　happy　in　the　country；　she　who　jumped　out　of　bed　every　morningoh；　so　early！with　Albert；　to　take　a　walk；　before　breakfast；　with　Albert　alone！　How　wonderful　it　was　to　be　taught　by　him！　To　be　told　by　him　which　trees　were　which；　and　to　learn　all　about　the　bees！　And　then　to　sit　doing　cross…stitch　while　he　read　aloud　to　her　Hallam's　Constitutional　History　of　England！　Or　to　listen　to　him　playing　on　his　new　organ　〃The　organ　is　the　first　of　instruments；〃　he　said）；　or　to　sing　to　him　a　song　by　Mendelssohn；　with　a　great　deal　of　care　over　the　time　and　the　breathing；　and　only　a　very　occasional　false　note！　And；　after　dinner；　tooh；　how　good　of　him！　He　had　given　up　his　double　chess！　And　so　there　could　be　round　games　at　the　round　table；　or　everyone　could　spend　the　evening　in　the　most　amusing　way　imaginablespinning　counters　and　rings。'　When　the　babies　came　it　was　still　more　wonderful。　Pussy　was　such　a　clever　little　girl　（〃I　am　not　Pussy！　I　am　the　Princess　Royal！〃　she　had　angrily　exclaimed　on　one　occasion）；　and　Bertiewell；　she　could　only　pray　MOST　fervently　that　the　little　Prince　of　Wales　would　grow　up　to　〃resemble　his　angelic　dearest　Father　in　EVERY；　EVERY　respect；　both　in　body　and　mind。〃　Her　dear　Mamma；　too；　had　been　drawn　once　more　into　the　family　circle；　for　Albert　had　brought　about　a　reconciliation；　and　the　departure　of　　Lehzen　had　helped　to　obliterate　the　past。　In　Victoria's　eyes；　life　had　become　　an　idyll；　and；　if　the　essential　elements　of　an　idyll　are　happiness；　love　and　simplicity；　an　idyll　it　was；　though；　indeed；　it　was　of　a　kind　that　might　have　disconcerted　Theocritus。　　〃Albert　brought　in　dearest　little　Pussy；〃　wrote　Her　Majesty　in　her　journal；　〃in　such　a　smart　white　merino　dress　trimmed　with　blue；　which　Mamma　had　given　her；　and　a　pretty　cap；　and　placed　her　on　my　bed；　seating　himself　next　to　her；　and　she　was　very　dear　and　good。　And；　as　my　precious；　invaluable　Albert　sat　there；　and　our　little　Love　between　us；　I　felt　quite　moved　with　happiness　and　gratitude　to　God。〃

The　pastthe　past　of　only　three　years　sincewhen　she　looked　back　upon　it；　seemed　a　thing　so　remote　and　alien　that　she　could　explain　it　to　herself　in　no　other　way　than　as　some　kind　of　delusionan　unfortunate　mistake。　Turning　over　an　old　volume　of　her　diary；　she　came　upon　this　sentence〃As　for　'the　confidence　of　the　Crown；'　God　knows！　No　MINISTER；　NO　FRIEND；　EVER　possessed　it　so　entirely　as　this　truly　excellent　Lord　Melbourne　possesses　mine！〃　A　pang　shot　through　hershe　seized　a　pen；　and　wrote　upon　the　margin〃Reading　this　again；　I　cannot　forbear　remarking　what　an　artificial　sort　of　happiness　MINE　was　THEN；　and　what　a　blessing　it　is　I　have　now　in　my　beloved　Husband　REAL　and　solid　happiness；　which　no　Politics；　no　worldly　reverses　CAN　change；　it　could　not　have　lasted　long　as　it　was　then；　for　after　all；　kind　and　excellent　as　Lord　M。　is；　and　kind　as　he　was　to　me；　it　was　but　in　Society　that　I　had　amusement；　and　I　was　only　living　on　that　superficial　resource；　which　I　THEN　FANCIED　was　happiness！　Thank　God！　for　ME　and　others；　this　is　changed；　and　I　KNOW　WHAT　REAL　HAPPINESS　ISV。　R。〃　How　did　she　know？　What　is　the　distinction　between　happiness　that　is　real　and　happiness　that　is　felt？　So　a　philosopherLord　M。　himself　perhapsmight　have　inquired。　But　she　was　no　philosopher；　and　Lord　M。　was　a　phantom；　and　Albert　was　beside　her；　and　that　was　enough。

Happy；　certainly；　she　was；　and　she　wanted　everyone　to　know　it。　Her　letters　to　King　Leopold　are　sprinkled　thick　with　raptures。　〃Oh！　my　dearest　uncle；　I　am　sure　if　you　knew　HOW　happy；　how　blessed　I　feel；　and　how　PROUD　I　feel　in　possessing　SUCH　a　perfect　being　as　my　husband。。。〃　such　ecstasies　seemed　to　gush　from　her　pen　unceasingly　and　almost　of　their　own　accord。　When；　one　day；　without　thinking；　Lady　Lyttelton　described　someone　to　her　as　being　〃as　happy　as　a　queen；〃　and　then　grew　a　little　confused；　〃Don't　correct　yourself；　Lady　Lyttelton；〃　said　Her　Majesty。　〃A　queen　IS　a　very　happy　woman。〃

But　this　new　happiness　was　no　lotus　dream。　On　the　contrary；　it　was　bracing；　rather　than　relaxing。　Never　before　had　she　felt　so　acutely　the　necessity　for　doing　her　duty。　She　worked　more　methodically　than　ever　at　the　business　of　State；　she　watched　over　her　children　with　untiring　vigilance。　She　carried　on　a　large　correspondence；　she　was　occupied　with　her　farmher　dairya　whole　multitude　of　household　avocationsfrom　morning　till　night。　Her　active；　eager　little　body　hurrying　with　quick　steps　after　the　long　strides　of　Albert　down　the　corridors　and　avenues　of　Windsor；　seemed　the　very　expression　of　her　spirit。　Amid　all　the　softness；　the　deliciousness　of　unmixed　joy；　all　the　liquescence；　the　overflowings　of　inexhaustible　sentiment；　her　native　rigidity　remained。　〃A　vein　of　iron；〃　said　Lady　Lyttelton；　who；　as　royal　governess；　had　good　means　of　observation；　〃runs　through　her　most　extraordinary　character。〃　Sometimes　the　delightful　routine　of　domestic　existence　had　to　be　interrupted。　It　was　necessary　to　exchange　Windsor　for　Buckingham　Palace；　to　open　Parliament；　or　to　interview　official　personages；　or；　occasionally；　to　entertain　foreign　visitors　at　the　Castle。　Then　the　quiet　Court　put　on　a　sudden　magnificence；　and　sovereigns　from　over　the　seasLouis　Philippe；　or　the　King　of　Prussia；　or　the　King　of　Saxonyfound　at　Windsor　an　entertainment　that　was　indeed　a　royal　one。　Few　spectacles　in　Europe；　it　was　agreed；　produced　an　effect　so　imposing　as　the　great　Waterloo　banqueting　hall；　crowded　with　guests　in　sparkling　diamonds　and　blazing　uniforms；　the　long　walls　hung　with　the　stately　portraits　of　heroes；　and　the　tables　loaded　with　the　gorgeous　gold　plate　of　the　kings　of　England。　But；　in　that　wealth　of　splendour；　the　most　imposing　spectacle　of　all　was　the　Queen。　The　little　hausfrau；　who　had　spent　the　day　before　walking　out　with　her　children；　inspecting　her　livestock；　practicing　shakes　at　the　piano；　and　filling　up　her　journal　with　adoring　descriptions　of　her　husband；　suddenly　shone　forth；　without　art；　without　effort；　by　a　spontaneous　and　natural　transition；　the　very　culmination　of　Majesty。　The　Tsar　of　Russia　himself　was　deeply　impressed。　Victoria　on　her　side　viewed　with　secret　awe　the　tremendous　Nicholas。　〃A　great　event　and　a　great　compliment　HIS　visit　certainly　is；〃　she　told　her　uncle；　〃and　the　people　HERE　are　extremely　flattered　at　it。　He　is　certainly　a　VERY　STRIKING　man；　still　very　handsome。　His　profile　is　BEAUTIFUL　and　his　manners　MOST　dignified　and　graceful；　extremely　civilquite　alarmingly　so；　as　he　is　so　full　of　attentions　and　POLITENESS。　But　the　expression　of　the　EYES　is　FORMIDABLE　and　unlike　anything　I　ever　saw　before。〃　She　and　Albert　and　〃the　good　King　of　Saxony；〃　who　happened　to　be　there　at　the　same　time；　and　whom；　she　said；　〃we　like　muchhe　is　so　unassuming…〃　drew　together　like　tame　villatic　fowl　in　the　presence　of　that　awful　eagle。　When　he　was　gone；　they　compared　notes　about　his　face；　his　unhappiness；　and　his　despotic　power　over　millions。　Well！　She　for　her　part　could　not　help　pitying　him；　and　she　thanked　God　she　was　Queen　of　England。

When　the　time　came　for　returning　some　of　these　visits；　the　royal　pair　set　forth　in　their　yacht；　much　to　Victoria's　satisfaction。　〃I　do　love　a　ship！〃　she　exclaimed；　ran　up　and　down　ladders　with　the　greatest　agility；　and　cracked　jokes　with　the　sailors。　The　Prince　was　more　aloof。　They　visited　Louis　Philippe　at　the　Chateau　d'Eu；　they　visited　King　Leopold　in　Brussels。　It　happened　that　a　still　more　remarkable　Englishwoman　was　in　the　Belgian　capital；　but　she　was　not　remarked；　and　Queen　Victoria　passed　unknowing　before　the　steady　gaze　of　one　of　the　mistresses　in　M。　Heger's　pensionnat。　〃A　little　stout；　vivacious　lady；　very　plainly　dressednot　much　dignity　or　pretension　about　her；〃　was　Charlotte　Bronte's　comment　as　the　royal　carriage　and　six　flashed　by　her；　making　her　wait　on　the　pavement　for　a　moment；　and　interrupting　the　train　of　her　reflections。　Victoria　was　in　high　spirits；　and　even　succeeded　in　instilling　a　little　cheerfulness　into　her　uncle's　sombre　Court。　King　Leopold；　indeed；　was　perfectly　contented。　His　dearest　hopes　had　been　fulfilled；　all　his　ambitions　were　satisfied；　and　for　the　rest　of　his　life　he　had　only　to　enjoy；　in　undisturbed　decorum；　his　throne；　his　respectability；　the　table　of　precedence；　and　the　punctual　discharge　of　his　irksome　duties。　But　unfortunately　the　felicity　of　those　who　surrounded　him　was　less　complete。　His　Court；　it　was　murmured；　was　as　gloomy　as　a　conventicle；　and　the　most　dismal　of　all　the　sufferers　was　his　wife。　〃Pas　de　plaisanteries；　madame！〃　he　had　exclaimed　to　the　unfortunate　successor　of　the　Princess　Charlotte；　when；　in　the　early　days　of　their　marriage；　she　had　attempted　a　feeble　joke。　Did　she　not　understand　that　the　consort　of　a　constitutional　sovereign　must　not　be　frivolous？　She　understood；　at　last；　only　too　well；　and　when　the　startled　walls　of　the　state　apartments　re…echoed　to　the　chattering　and　the　laughter　of　Victoria；　the　poor　lady　found　that　she　had　almost　forgotten　how　to　smile。

Another　year；　Germany　was　visited；　and　Albert　displayed　the　beauties　of　his　home。　When　Victoria　crossed　the　frontier；　she　was　much　excitedand　she　was　astonished　as　well。　〃To　hear　the　people　speak　German；〃　she　noted　in　her　diary；　〃and　to　see　the　German　soldiers；　etc。；　seemed　to　me　so　singular。〃　Having　recovered　from　this　slight　shock；　she　found　the　country　charming。　She　was　feted　everywhere；　crowds　of　the　surrounding　royalties　swooped　down　to　welcome　her；　and　the　prettiest　groups　of　peasant　children；　dressed　in　their　best　clothes；　presented　her　with　bunches　of　flowers。　The　principality　of　Coburg；　with　its　romantic　scenery　and　its　well…behaved　inhabitants；　particularly　delighted　her；　and　when　she　woke　up　one　morning　to　find　herself　in　〃dear　Rosenau；　my　Albert's　birthplace；〃　it　was　〃like　a　beautiful　dream。〃　On　her　return　home；　she　expatiated；　in　a　letter　to　King　Leopold；　upon　the　pleasures　of　the　trip；　dwelling　especially　upon　the　intensity　of　her　affection　for　Albert's　native　land。　〃I　have　a　feeling；〃　she　said；　〃for　our　dear　little　Germany；　which　I　cannot　describe。　I　felt　it　at　Rosenau　so　much。　It　is　a　something　which　touches　me；　and　which　goes　to　my　heart；　and　makes　me　inclined　to　cry。　I　never　felt　at　any　other　place　that　sort　of　pensive　pleasure　and　peace　which　I　felt　there。　I　fear　I　almost　like　it　too　much。〃

V

The　husband　was　not　so　happy　as　the　wife。　In　spite　of　the　great　improvement　in　his　situation；　in　spite　of　a　growing　family　and　the　adoration　of　Victoria；　Albert　was　still　a　stranger　in　a　strange　land；　and　the　serenity　of　spiritual　satisfaction　was　denied　him。　It　was　something；　no