queen victoria-第6章

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t。　I　went　with　the　firm　determination　to　become　a　true　Christian；　to　try　and　comfort　my　dear　Mamma　in　all　her　griefs；　trials；　and　anxieties；　and　to　become　a　dutiful　and　affectionate　daughter　to　her。　Also　to　be　obedient　to　DEAR　Lehzen；　who　has　done　so　much　for　me。　I　was　dressed　in　a　white　lace　dress；　with　a　white　crepe　bonnet　with　a　wreath　of　white　roses　round　it。　I　went　in　the　chariot　with　my　dear　Mamma　and　the　others　followed　in　another　carriage。〃　One　seems　to　hold　in　one's　hand　a　small　smooth　crystal　pebble；　without　a　flaw　and　without　a　scintillation；　and　so　transparent　that　one　can　see　through　it　at　a　glance。

Yet　perhaps；　after　all；　to　the　discerning　eye；　the　purity　would　not　be　absolute。　The　careful　searcher　might　detect；　in　the　virgin　soil；　the　first　faint　traces　of　an　unexpected　vein。　In　that　conventual　existence　visits　were　exciting　events；　and；　as　the　Duchess　had　many　relatives；　they　were　not　infrequent；　aunts　and　uncles　would　often　appear　from　Germany；　and　cousins　too。　When　the　Princess　was　fourteen　she　was　delighted　by　the　arrival　of　a　couple　of　boys　from　Wurtemberg；　the　Princes　Alexander　and　Ernst；　sons　of　her　mother's　sister　and　the　reigning　duke。　〃They　are　both　EXTREMELY　TALL；〃　she　noted；　〃Alexander　is　VERY　HANDSOME；　and　Ernst　has　a　VERY　KIND　EXPRESSION。　They　are　both　extremely　AMIABLE。〃　And　their　departure　filled　her　with　corresponding　regrets。　〃We　saw　them　get　into　the　barge；　and　watched　them　sailing　away　for　some　time　on　the　beach。　They　were　so　amiable　and　so　pleasant　to　have　in　the　house；　they　were　ALWAYS　SATISFIED；　ALWAYS　GOOD…HUMOURED；　Alexander　took　such　care　of　me　in　getting　out　of　the　boat；　and　rode　next　to　me；　so　did　Ernst。〃　Two　years　later；　two　other　cousins　arrived；　the　Princes　Ferdinand　and　Augustus。　〃Dear　Ferdinand；〃　the　Princess　wrote；　〃has　elicited　universal　admiration　from　all　parties。。。　He　is　so　very　unaffected；　and　has　such　a　very　distinguished　appearance　and　carriage。　They　are　both　very　dear　and　charming　young　men。　Augustus　is　very　amiable；　too；　and；　when　known；　shows　much　good　sense。〃　On　another　occasion；　Dear　Ferdinand　came　and　sat　near　me　and　talked　so　dearly　and　sensibly。　I　do　SO　love　him。　Dear　Augustus　sat　near　me　and　talked　with　me；　and　he　is　also　a　dear　good　young　man；　and　is　very　handsome。〃　She　could　not　quite　decide　which　was　the　handsomer　of　the　two。　〃On　the　whole；〃　she　concluded；　〃I　think　Ferdinand　handsomer　than　Augustus；　his　eyes　are　so　beautiful；　and　he　has　such　a　lively　clever　expression；　BOTH　have　such　a　sweet　expression；　Ferdinand　has　something　QUITE　BEAUTIFUL　in　his　expression　when　he　speaks　and　smiles；　and　he　is　SO　good。〃　However；　it　was　perhaps　best　to　say　that　they　were　〃both　very　handsome　and　VERY　DEAR。〃　But　shortly　afterwards　two　more　cousins　arrived；　who　threw　all　the　rest　into　the　shade。　These　were　the　Princes　Ernest　and　Albert；　sons　of　her　mother's　eldest　brother；　the　Duke　of　Saxe…Coburg。　This　time　the　Princess　was　more　particular　in　her　observations。　〃Ernest；〃　she　remarked；〃　is　as　tall　as　Ferdinand　and　Augustus；　he　has　dark　hair；　and　fine　dark　eyes　and　eyebrows；　but　the　nose　and　mouth　are　not　good；　he　has　a　most　kind；　honest；　and　intelligent　expression　in　his　countenance；　and　has　a　very　good　figure。　Albert；　who　is　just　as　tall　as　Ernest　but　stouter；　is　extremely　handsome；　his　hair　is　about　the　same　colour　as　mine；　his　eyes　are　large　and　blue；　and　he　has　a　beautiful　nose　and　a　very　sweet　mouth　with　fine　teeth；　but　the　charm　of　his　countenance　is　his　expression；　which　is　most　delightful；　c'est　a　la　fois　full　of　goodness　and　sweetness；　and　very　clever　and　intelligent。〃　〃Both　my　cousins；〃　she　added；　〃are　so　kind　and　good；　they　are　much　more　formes　and　men　of　the　world　than　Augustus；　they　speak　English　very　well；　and　I　speak　it　with　them。　Ernest　will　be　18　years　old　on　the　21st　of　June；　and　Albert　17　on　the　26th　of　August。　Dear　Uncle　Ernest　made　me　the　present　of　a　most　delightful　Lory；　which　is　so　tame　that　it　remains　on　your　hand　and　you　may　put　your　finger　into　its　beak；　or　do　anything　with　it；　without　its　ever　attempting　to　bite。　It　is　larger　than　Mamma's　grey　parrot。〃　A　little　later；　〃I　sat　between　my　dear　cousins　on　the　sofa　and　we　looked　at　drawings。　They　both　draw　very　well；　particularly　Albert；　and　are　both　exceedingly　fond　of　music；　they　play　very　nicely　on　the　piano。　The　more　I　see　them　the　more　I　am　delighted　with　them；　and　the　more　I　love　them。。。　It　is　delightful　to　be　with　them；　they　are　so　fond　of　being　occupied　too；　they　are　quite　an　example　for　any　young　person。〃　When；　after　a　stay　of　three　weeks；　the　time　came　for　the　young　men　and　their　father　to　return　to　Germany；　the　moment　of　parting　was　a　melancholy　one。　〃It　was　our　last　HAPPY　HAPPY　breakfast；　with　this　dear　Uncle　and　those　DEAREST　beloved　cousins；　whom　I　DO　love　so　VERY　VERY　dearly；　MUCH　MORE　DEARLY　than　any　other　cousins　in　the　WORLD。　Dearly　as　I　love　Ferdinand；　and　also　good　Augustus；　I　love　Ernest　and　Albert　MORE　than　them；　oh　yes；　MUCH　MORE。。。　They　have　both　learnt　a　good　deal；　and　are　very　clever；　naturally　clever；　particularly　Albert；　who　is　the　most　reflecting　of　the　two；　and　they　like　very　much　talking　about　serious　and　instructive　things　and　yet　are　so　VERY　VERY　merry　and　gay　and　happy；　like　young　people　ought　to　be；　Albert　always　used　to　have　some　fun　and　some　clever　witty　answer　at　breakfast　and　everywhere；　he　used　to　play　and　fondle　Dash　so　funnily　too。。。　Dearest　Albert　was　playing　on　the　piano　when　I　came　down。　At　11　dear　Uncle；　my　DEAREST　BELOVED　cousins；　and　Charles；　left　us；　accompanied　by　Count　Kolowrat。　I　embraced　both　my　dearest　cousins　most　warmly；　as　also　my　dear　Uncle。　I　cried　bitterly；　very　bitterly。〃　The　Princes　shared　her　ecstasies　and　her　italics　between　them；　but　it　is　clear　enough　where　her　secret　preference　lay。　〃Particularly　Albert！〃　She　was　just　seventeen；　and　deep　was　the　impression　left　upon　that　budding　organism　by　the　young　man's　charm　and　goodness　and　accomplishments；　and　his　large　blue　eyes　and　beautiful　nose；　and　his　sweet　mouth　and　fine　teeth。

IV

King　William　could　not　away　with　his　sister…in…law；　and　the　Duchess　fully　returned　his　antipathy。　Without　considerable　tact　and　considerable　forbearance　their　relative　positions　were　well　calculated　to　cause　ill…feeling；　and　there　was　very　little　tact　in　the　composition　of　the　Duchess；　and　no　forbearance　at　all　in　that　of　his　Majesty。　A　bursting；　bubbling　old　gentleman；　with　quarterdeck　gestures；　round　rolling　eyes；　and　a　head　like　a　pineapple；　his　sudden　elevation　to　the　throne　after　fifty…six　years　of　utter　insignificance　had　almost　sent　him　crazy。　His　natural　exuberance　completely　got　the　best　of　him；　he　rushed　about　doing　preposterous　things　in　an　extraordinary　manner；　spreading　amusement　and　terror　in　every　direction；　and　talking　all　the　time。　His　tongue　was　decidedly　Hanoverian；　with　its　repetitions；　its　catchwords〃That's　quite　another　thing！　That's　quite　another　thing！〃its　rattling　indomitability；　its　loud　indiscreetness。　His　speeches；　made　repeatedly　at　the　most　inopportune　junctures；　and　filled　pell…mell　with　all　the　fancies　and　furies　that　happened　at　the　moment　to　be　whisking　about　in　his　head；　were　the　consternation　of　Ministers。　He　was　one　part　blackguard；　people　said；　and　three　parts　buffoon；　but　those　who　knew　him　better　could　not　help　liking　himhe　meant　well；　and　he　was　really　good…humoured　and　kind…hearted；　if　you　took　him　the　right　way。　If　you　took　him　the　wrong　way；　however；　you　must　look　out　for　squalls；　as　the　Duchess　of　Kent　discovered。

She　had　no　notion　of　how　to　deal　with　himcould　not　understand　him　in　the　least。　Occupied　with　her　own　position；　her　own　responsibilities；　her　duty；　and　her　daughter；　she　had　no　attention　to　spare　for　the　peppery　susceptibilities　of　a　foolish；　disreputable　old　man。　She　was　the　mother　of　the　heiress　of　England；　and　it　was　for　him　to　recognise　the　factto　put　her　at　once　upon　a　proper　footingto　give　her　the　precedence　of　a　dowager　Princess　of　Wales；　with　a　large　annuity　from　the　privy　purse。　It　did　not　occur　to　her　that　such　pretensions　might　be　galling　to　a　king　who　had　no　legitimate　child　of　his　own；　and　who　yet　had　not　altogether　abandoned　the　hope　of　having　one。　She　pressed　on；　with　bulky　vigour；　along　the　course　she　had　laid　out。　Sir　John　Conroy；　an　Irishman　with　no　judgment　and　a　great　deal　of　self…importance；　was　her　intimate　counsellor；　and　egged　her　on。　It　was　advisable　that　Victoria　should　become　acquainted　with　the　various　districts　of　England；　and　through　several　summers　a　succession　of　toursin　the　West；　in　the　Midlands；　in　Waleswere　arranged　for　her。　The　intention　of　the　plan　was　excellent；　but　its　execution　was　unfortunate。　The　journeys；　advertised　in　the　Press；　attracting　enthusiastic　crowds；　and　involving　official　receptions；　took　on　the　air　of　royal　progresses。　Addresses　were　presented　by　loyal　citizens；　the　delighted　Duchess；　swelling　in　sweeping　feathers　and　almost　obliterating　the　diminutive　Princess；　read　aloud；　in　her　German　accent；　gracious　replies　prepared　beforehand　by　Sir　John；　who；　bustling　and　ridiculous；　seemed　to　be　mingling　the　roles　of　major…domo　and　Prime　Minister。　Naturally　the　King　fumed　over　his　newspaper　at　Windsor。　〃That　woman　is　a　nuisance！〃　he　exclaimed。　Poor　Queen　Adelaide；　amiable　though　disappointed；　did　her　best　to　smooth　things　down；　changed　the　subject；　and　wrote　affectionate　letters　to　Victoria；　but　it　was　useless。　News　arrived　that　the　Duchess　of　Kent；　sailing　in　the　Solent；　had　insisted　that　whenever　her　yacht　appeared　it　should　be　received　by　royal　salutes　from　all　the　men…of…war　and　all　the　forts。　The　King　declared　that　these　continual　poppings　must　cease；　the　Premier　and　the　First　Lord　of　the　Admiralty　were　consulted；　and　they　wrote　privately　to　the　Duchess；　begging　her　to　waive　her　rights。　But　she　would　not　hear　of　it；　Sir　John　Conroy　was　adamant。　〃As　her　Royal　Highness's　CONFIDENTIAL　ADVISER；〃　he　said；　〃I　cannot　recommend　her　to　give　way　on　this　point。〃　Eventually　the　King；　in　a　great　state　of　excitement；　issued　a　special　Order　in　Council；　prohibiting　the　firing　of　royal　salutes　to　any　ships　except　those　which　carried　the　reigning　sovereign　or　his　consort　on　board。

When　King　William　quarrelled　with　his　Whig　Ministers　the　situation　grew　still　more　embittered；　for　now　the　Duchess；　in　addition　to　her　other　shortcomings；　was　the　political　partisan　of　his　enemies。　In　1836　he　made　an　attempt　to　prepare　the　ground　for　a　match　between　the　Princess　Victoria　and　one　of　the　sons　of　the　Prince　of　Orange；　and　at　the　same　time　did　his　best　to　prevent　the　visit　of　the　young　Coburg　princes　to　Kensington。　He　failed　in　both　these　objects；　and　the　only　result　of　his　efforts　was　to　raise　the　anger　of　the　King　of　the　Belgians；　who；　forgetting　for　a　moment　his　royal　reserve；　addressed　an　indignant　letter　on　the　subject　to　his　niece。　〃I　am　really　ASTONISHED；〃　he　wrote；　〃at　the　conduct　of　your　old　Uncle　the　King；　this　invitation　of　the　Prince　of　Orange　and　his　sons；　this　forcing　him　on　others；　is　very　extraordinary。。。　Not　later　than　yesterday　I　got　a　half…official　communication　from　England；　insinuating　that　it　would　be　HIGHLY　desirable　that　the　visit　of　YOUR　relatives　SHOULD　NOT　TAKE　PLACE　THIS　YEARqu'en　dites…vous？　The　relations　of　the　Queen　and　the　King；　therefore；　to　the　God…knows…what　degree；　are　to　come　in　shoals　and　rule　the　land；　when　Y