queen victoria-第7章

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d　the　King；　therefore；　to　the　God…knows…what　degree；　are　to　come　in　shoals　and　rule　the　land；　when　YOUR　RELATIONS　are　to　be　FORBIDDEN　the　country；　and　that　when；　as　you　know；　the　whole　of　your　relations　have　ever　been　very　dutiful　and　kind　to　the　King。　Really　and　truly　I　never　heard　or　saw　anything　like　it；　and　I　hope　it　will　a　LITTLE　ROUSE　YOUR　SPIRIT；　now　that　slavery　is　even　abolished　in　the　British　Colonies；　I　do　not　comprehend　WHY　YOUR　LOT　ALONE　SHOULD　BE　TO　BE　KEPT　A　WHITE　LITTLE　SLAVEY　IN　ENGLAND；　for　the　pleasure　of　the　Court；　who　never　bought　you；　as　I　am　not　aware　of　their　ever　having　gone　to　any　expense　on　that　head；　or　the　King's　ever　having　SPENT　A　SIXPENCE　FOR　YOUR　EXISTENCE。。。　Oh；　consistency　and　political　or　OTHER　HONESTY；　where　must　one　look　for　you！〃

Shortly　afterwards　King　Leopold　came　to　England　himself；　and　his　reception　was　as　cold　at　Windsor　as　it　was　warm　at　Kensington。　〃To　hear　dear　Uncle　speak　on　any　subject；〃　the　Princess　wrote　in　her　diary；　〃is　like　reading　a　highly　instructive　book；　his　conversation　is　so　enlightened；　so　clear。　He　is　universally　admitted　to　be　one　of　the　first　politicians　now　extant。　He　speaks　so　mildly；　yet　firmly　and　impartially；　about　politics。　Uncle　tells　me　that　Belgium　is　quite　a　pattern　for　its　organisation；　its　industry；　and　prosperity；　the　finances　are　in　the　greatest　perfection。　Uncle　is　so　beloved　and　revered　by　his　Belgian　subjects；　that　it　must　be　a　great　compensation　for　all　his　extreme　trouble。〃　But　her　other　uncle　by　no　means　shared　her　sentiments。　He　could　not；　he　said；　put　up　with　a　water…drinker；　and　King　Leopold　would　touch　no　wine。　〃What's　that　you're　drinking；　sir？〃　he　asked　him　one　day　at　dinner。　〃Water；　sir。〃　〃God　damn　it；　sir！〃　was　the　rejoinder。　〃Why　don't　you　drink　wine？　I　never　allow　anybody　to　drink　water　at　my　table。〃

It　was　clear　that　before　very　long　there　would　be　a　great　explosion；　and　in　the　hot　days　of　August　it　came。　The　Duchess　and　the　Princess　had　gone　down　to　stay　at　Windsor　for　the　King's　birthday　party；　and　the　King　himself；　who　was　in　London　for　the　day　to　prorogue　Parliament；　paid　a　visit　at　Kensington　Palace　in　their　absence。　There　he　found　that　the　Duchess　had　just　appropriated；　against　his　express　orders；　a　suite　of　seventeen　apartments　for　her　own　use。　He　was　extremely　angry；　and；　when　he　returned　to　Windsor；　after　greeting　the　Princess　with　affection；　he　publicly　rebuked　the　Duchess　for　what　she　had　done。　But　this　was　little　to　what　followed。　On　the　next　day　was　the　birthday　banquet；　there　were　a　hundred　guests；　the　Duchess　of　Kent　sat　on　the　King's　right　hand；　and　the　Princess　Victoria　opposite。　At　the　end　of　the　dinner；　in　reply　to　the　toast　of　the　King's　health；　he　rose；　and；　in　a　long；　loud；　passionate　speech；　poured　out　the　vials　of　his　wrath　upon　the　Duchess。　She　had；　he　declared；　insulted　himgrossly　and　continually；　she　had　kept　the　Princess　away　from　him　in　the　most　improper　manner；　she　was　surrounded　by　evil　advisers；　and　was　incompetent　to　act　with　propriety　in　the　high　station　which　she　filled；　but　he　would　bear　it　no　longer；　he　would　have　her　to　know　he　was　King；　he　was　determined　that　his　authority　should　be　respected；　henceforward　the　Princess　should　attend　at　every　Court　function　with　the　utmost　regularity；　and　he　hoped　to　God　that　his　life　might　be　spared　for　six　months　longer；　so　that　the　calamity　of　a　regency　might　be　avoided；　and　the　functions　of　the　Crown　pass　directly　to　the　heiress…presumptive　instead　of　into　the　hands　of　the　〃person　now　near　him；〃　upon　whose　conduct　and　capacity　no　reliance　whatever　could　be　placed。　The　flood　of　vituperation　rushed　on　for　what　seemed　an　interminable　period；　while　the　Queen　blushed　scarlet；　the　Princess　burst　into　tears；　and　the　hundred　guests　sat　aghast。　The　Duchess　said　not　a　word　until　the　tirade　was　over　and　the　company　had　retired；　then　in　a　tornado　of　rage　and　mortification；　she　called　for　her　carriage　and　announced　her　immediate　return　to　Kensington。　It　was　only　with　the　utmost　difficulty　that　some　show　of　a　reconciliation　was　patched　up；　and　the　outraged　lady　was　prevailed　upon　to　put　off　her　departure　till　the　morrow。

Her　troubles；　however；　were　not　over　when　she　had　shaken　the　dust　of　Windsor　from　her　feet。　In　her　own　household　she　was　pursued　by　bitterness　and　vexation　of　spirit。　The　apartments　at　Kensington　were　seething　with　subdued　disaffection；　with　jealousies　and　animosities　virulently　intensified　by　long　years　of　propinquity　and　spite。

There　was　a　deadly　feud　between　Sir　John　Conroy　and　Baroness　Lehzen。　But　that　was　not　all。　The　Duchess　had　grown　too　fond　of　her　Major…Domo。　There　were　familiarities；　and　one　day　the　Princess　Victoria　discovered　the　fact。　She　confided　what　she　had　seen　to　the　Baroness；　and　to　the　Baroness's　beloved　ally；　Madame　de　Spath。　Unfortunately；　Madame　de　Spath　could　not　hold　her　tongue；　and　was　actually　foolish　enough　to　reprove　the　Duchess；　whereupon　she　was　instantly　dismissed。　It　was　not　so　easy　to　get　rid　of　the　Baroness。　That　lady；　prudent　and　reserved；　maintained　an　irreproachable　demeanour。　Her　position　was　strongly　entrenched；　she　had　managed　to　secure　the　support　of　the　King；　and　Sir　John　found　that　he　could　do　nothing　against　her。　But　henceforward　the　household　was　divided　into　two　camps。＇*＇　The　Duchess　supported　Sir　John　with　all　the　abundance　of　her　authority；　but　the　Baroness；　too；　had　an　adherent　who　could　not　be　neglected。　The　Princess　Victoria　said　nothing；　but　she　had　been　much　attached　to　Madame　de　Spath；　and　she　adored　her　Lehzen。　The　Duchess　knew　only　too　well　that　in　this　horrid　embroilment　her　daughter　was　against　her。　Chagrin；　annoyance；　moral　reprobation；　tossed　her　to　and　fro。　She　did　her　best　to　console　herself　with　Sir　John's　affectionate　loquacity；　or　with　the　sharp　remarks　of　Lady　Flora　Hastings；　one　of　her　maids　of　honour；　who　had　no　love　for　the　Baroness。　The　subject　lent　itself　to　satire；　for　the　pastor's　daughter；　with　all　her　airs　of　stiff　superiority；　had　habits　which　betrayed　her　origin。　Her　passion　for　caraway　seeds；　for　instance；　was　uncontrollable。　Little　bags　of　them　came　over　to　her　from　Hanover；　and　she　sprinkled　them　on　her　bread　and　butter；　her　cabbage；　and　even　her　roast　beef。　Lady　Flora　could　not　resist　a　caustic　observation；　it　was　repeated　to　the　Baroness；　who　pursed　her　lips　in　fury；　and　so　the　mischief　grew。

＇*＇　Greville；　IV；　21；　and　August　15；　1839　（unpublished）。　〃The　cause　of　the　Queen's　alienation　from　the　Duchess　and　hatred　of　Conroy；　the　Duke　＇of　Wellington＇　said；　was　unquestionably　owing　to　her　having　witnessed　some　familiarities　between　them。　What　she　had　seen　she　repeated　to　Baroness　Spaeth；　and　Spaeth　not　only　did　not　hold　her　tongue；　but　（he　thinks）　remonstrated　with　the　Duchess　herself　on　the　subject。　The　consequence　was　that　they　got　rid　of　Spaeth；　and　they　would　have　got　rid　of　Lehzen；　too；　if　they　had　been　able；　but　Lehzen；　who　knew　very　well　what　was　going　on；　was　prudent　enough　not　to　commit　herself；　and　who　was；　besides；　powerfully　protected　by　George　IV　and　William　IV；　so　that　they　did　not　dare　to　attempt　to　expel　her。〃

V

The　King　had　prayed　that　he　might　live　till　his　niece　was　of　age；　and　a　few　days　before　her　eighteenth　birthdaythe　date　of　her　legal　majoritya　sudden　attack　of　illness　very　nearly　carried　him　off。　He　recovered；　however；　and　the　Princess　was　able　to　go　through　her　birthday　festivitiesa　state　ball　and　a　drawing…roomwith　unperturbed　enjoyment。　〃Count　Zichy；〃　she　noted　in　her　diary；　〃is　very　good…looking　in　uniform；　but　not　in　plain　clothes。　Count　Waldstein　looks　remarkably　well　in　his　pretty　Hungarian　uniform。〃　With　the　latter　young　gentleman　she　wished　to　dance；　but　there　was　an　insurmountable　difficulty。　〃He　could　not　dance　quadrilles；　and；　as　in　my　station　I　unfortunately　cannot　valse　and　gallop；　I　could　not　dance　with　him。〃　Her　birthday　present　from　the　King　was　of　a　pleasing　nature；　but　it　led　to　a　painful　domestic　scene。　In　spite　of　the　anger　of　her　Belgian　uncle；　she　had　remained　upon　good　terms　with　her　English　one。　He　had　always　been　very　kind　to　her；　and　the　fact　that　he　had　quarrelled　with　her　mother　did　not　appear　to　be　a　reason　for　disliking　him。　He　was；　she　said；　〃odd；　very　odd　and　singular；〃　but　〃his　intentions　were　often　ill　interpreted。〃　He　now　wrote　her　a　letter；　offering　her　an　allowance　of　L10；000　a　year；　which　he　proposed　should　be　at　her　own　disposal；　and　independent　of　her　mother。　Lord　Conyngham；　the　Lord　Chamberlain；　was　instructed　to　deliver　the　letter　into　the　Princess's　own　hands。　When　he　arrived　at　Kensington；　he　was　ushered　into　the　presence　of　the　Duchess　and　the　Princess；　and；　when　he　produced　the　letter；　the　Duchess　put　out　her　hand　to　take　it。　Lord　Conyngham　begged　her　Royal　Highness's　pardon；　and　repeated　the　King's　commands。　Thereupon　the　Duchess　drew　back；　and　the　Princess　took　the　letter。　She　immediately　wrote　to　her　uncle；　accepting　his　kind　proposal。　The　Duchess　was　much　displeased；　L4000　a　year；　she　said；　would　be　quite　enough　for　Victoria；　as　for　the　remaining　L6000；　it　would　be　only　proper　that　she　should　have　that　herself。

King　William　had　thrown　off　his　illness；　and　returned　to　his　normal　life。　Once　more　the　royal　circle　at　Windsortheir　Majesties；　the　elder　Princesses；　and　some　unfortunate　Ambassadress　or　Minister's　wifemight　be　seen　ranged　for　hours　round　a　mahogany　table；　while　the　Queen　netted　a　purse；　and　the　King　slept；　occasionally　waking　from　his　slumbers　to　observe　〃Exactly　so；　ma'am；　exactly　so！〃　But　this　recovery　was　of　short　duration。　The　old　man　suddenly　collapsed；　with　no　specific　symptoms　besides　an　extreme　weakness；　he　yet　showed　no　power　of　rallying；　and　it　was　clear　to　everyone　that　his　death　was　now　close　at　hand。

All　eyes；　all　thoughts；　turned　towards　the　Princess　Victoria；　but　she　still　remained；　shut　away　in　the　seclusion　of　Kensington；　a　small；　unknown　figure；　lost　in　the　large　shadow　of　her　mother's　domination。　The　preceding　year　had　in　fact　been　an　important　one　in　her　development。　The　soft　tendrils　of　her　mind　had　for　the　first　time　begun　to　stretch　out　towards　unchildish　things。　In　this　King　Leopold　encouraged　her。　After　his　return　to　Brussels；　he　had　resumed　his　correspondance　in　a　more　serious　strain；　he　discussed　the　details　of　foreign　politics；　he　laid　down　the　duties　of　kingship；　he　pointed　out　the　iniquitous　foolishness　of　the　newspaper　press。　On　the　latter　subject；　indeed；　he　wrote　with　some　asperity。　〃If　all　the　editors；〃　he　said；　〃of　the　papers　in　the　countries　where　the　liberty　of　the　press　exists　were　to　be　assembled；　we　should　have　a　crew　to　which　you　would　NOT　confide　a　dog　that　you　would　value；　still　less　your　honour　and　reputation。〃　On　the　functions　of　a　monarch；　his　views　were　unexceptionable。　〃The　business　of　the　highest　in　a　State；〃　he　wrote；　〃is　certainly；　in　my　opinion；　to　act　with　great　impartiality　and　a　spirit　of　justice　for　the　good　of　all。〃　At　the　same　time　the　Princess's　tastes　were　opening　out。　Though　she　was　still　passionately　devoted　to　riding　and　dancing；　she　now　began　to　have　a　genuine　love　of　music　as　well；　and　to　drink　in　the　roulades　and　arias　of　the　Italian　opera　with　high　enthusiasm。　She　even　enjoyed　reading　poetryat　any　rate；　the　poetry　of　Sir　Walter　Scott。

When　King　Leopold　learnt　that　King　William's　death　was　approaching；　he　wrote　several　lo