queen victoria-第14章
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pect of a statesman and a courtier with the tender solicitude of a parent。 He was at once reverential and affectionate； at once the servant and the guide。 At the same time the habits of his life underwent a surprising change。 His comfortable； unpunctual days became subject to the unaltering routine of a palace； no longer did he sprawl on sofas； not a single 〃damn〃 escaped his lips。 The man of the world who had been the friend of Byron and the regent； the talker whose paradoxes had held Holland House enthralled； the cynic whose ribaldries had enlivened so many deep potations； the lover whose soft words had captivated such beauty and such passion and such wit； might now be seen； evening after evening； talking with infinite politeness to a schoolgirl； bolt upright； amid the silence and the rigidity of Court etiquette。
IV
On her side； Victoria was instantaneously fascinated by Lord Melbourne。 The good report of Stockmar had no doubt prepared the way； Lehzen was wisely propitiated； and the first highly favourable impression was never afterwards belied。 She found him perfect； and perfect in her sight he remained。 Her absolute and unconcealed adoration was very natural； what innocent young creature could have resisted； in any circumstances； the charm and the devotion of such a man？ But； in her situation； there was a special influence which gave a peculiar glow to all she felt。 After years of emptiness and dullness and suppression； she had come suddenly； in the heyday of youth； into freedom and power。 She was mistress of herself； of great domains and palaces； she was Queen of England。 Responsibilities and difficulties she might have； no doubt； and in heavy measure； but one feeling dominated and absorbed all othersthe feeling of joy。 Everything pleased her。 She was in high spirits from morning till night。 Mr。 Creevey； grown old now； and very near his end； catching a glimpse of her at Brighton； was much amused； in his sharp fashion； by the ingenuous gaiety of 〃little Vic。〃 〃A more homely little being you never beheld； when she is at her ease； and she is evidently dying to be always more so。 She laughs in real earnest； opening her mouth as wide as it can go； showing not very pretty gums。。。 She eats quite as heartily as she laughs； I think I may say she gobbles。。。 She blushes and laughs every instant in so natural a way as to disarm anybody。〃 But it was not merely when she was laughing or gobbling that she enjoyed herself； the performance of her official duties gave her intense satisfaction。 〃I really have immensely to do；〃 she wrote in her Journal a few days after her accession； 〃I receive so many communications from my Ministers； but I like it very much。〃 And again； a week later； 〃I repeat what I said before that I have so many communications from the Ministers； and from me to them； and I get so many papers to sign every day； that I have always a very great deal to do。 I delight in this work。〃 Through the girl's immaturity the vigorous predestined tastes of the woman were pushing themselves into existence with eager velocity； with delicious force。
One detail of her happy situation deserves particular mention。 Apart from the splendour of her social position and the momentousness of her political one； she was a person of great wealth。 As soon as Parliament met； an annuity of L385；000 was settled upon her。 When the expenses of her household had been discharged； she was left with L68；000 a year of her own。 She enjoyed besides the revenues of the Duchy of Lancaster； which amounted annually to over L27；000。 The first use to which she put her money was characteristic： she paid off her father's debts。 In money matters； no less than in other matters； she was determined to be correct。 She had the instincts of a man of business； and she never could have borne to be in a position that was financially unsound。
With youth and happiness gilding every hour； the days passed merrily enough。 And each day hinged upon Lord Melbourne。 Her diary shows us； with undiminished clarity； the life of the young sovereign during the early months of her reigna life satisfactorily regular； full of delightful business； a life of simple pleasures； mostly physicalriding； eating； dancinga quick； easy； highly unsophisticated life； sufficient unto itself。 The light of the morning is upon it； and； in the rosy radiance； the figure of 〃Lord M。〃 emerges； glorified and supreme。 If she is the heroine of the story； he is the hero； but indeed they are more than hero and heroine； for there are no other characters at all。 Lehzen； the Baron； Uncle Leopold； are unsubstantial shadowsthe incidental supers of the piece。 Her paradise was peopled by two persons； and surely that was enough。 One sees them together still； a curious couple； strangely united in those artless pages； under the magical illumination of that dawn of eighty years ago： the polished high fine gentleman with the whitening hair and whiskers and the thick dark eyebrows and the mobile lips and the big expressive eyes； and beside him the tiny Queenfair； slim； elegant； active； in her plain girl's dress and little tippet； looking up at him earnestly； adoringly； with eyes blue and projecting； and half…open mouth。 So they appear upon every page of the Journal； upon every page Lord M。 is present； Lord M。 is speaking； Lord M。 is being amusing； instructive； delightful； and affectionate at once； while Victoria drinks in the honied words； laughs till she shows her gums； tries hard to remember； and runs off； as soon as she is left alone； to put it all down。 Their long conversations touched upon a multitude of topics。 Lord M。 would criticise books； throw out a remark or two on the British Constitution； make some passing reflections on human life； and tell story after story of the great people of the eighteenth century。 Then there would be business a despatch perhaps from Lord Durham in Canada； which Lord M。 would read。 But first he must explain a little。 〃He said that I must know that Canada originally belonged to the French； and was only ceded to the English in 1760； when it was taken in an expedition under Wolfe： 'a very daring enterprise；' he said。 Canada was then entirely French； and the British only came afterwards。。。 Lord M。 explained this very clearly （and much better than I have done） and said a good deal more about it。 He then read me Durham's despatch； which is a very long one and took him more than 1/2 an hour to read。 Lord M。 read it beautifully with that fine soft voice of his； and with so much expression； so that it is needless to say I was much interested by it。〃 And then the talk would take a more personal turn。 Lord M。 would describe his boyhood； and she would learn that 〃he wore his hair long； as all boys then did； till he was 17； （how handsome he must have looked！）。〃 Or she would find out about his queer tastes and habitshow he never carried a watch； which seemed quite extraordinary。 〃'I always ask the servant what o'clock it is； and then he tells me what he likes；' said Lord M。〃 Or； as the rooks wheeled about round the trees； 〃in a manner which indicated rain；〃 he would say that he could sit looking at them for an hour； and 〃was quite surprised at my disliking them。 M。 said； ' The rooks are my delight。'〃
The day's routine； whether in London or at Windsor； was almost invariable。 The morning was devoted to business and Lord M。 In the afternoon the whole Court went out riding。 The Queen； in her velvet ridinghabit and a top…hat with a veil draped about the brim； headed the cavalcade； and Lord M。 rode beside her。 The lively troupe went fast and far； to the extreme exhilaration of Her Majesty。 Back in the Palace again； there was still time for a little more fun before dinnera game of battledore and shuttlecock perhaps； or a romp along the galleries with some children。 Dinner came； and the ceremonial decidedly tightened。 The gentleman of highest rank sat on the right hand of the Queen； on her leftit soon became an established rulesat Lord Melbourne。 After the ladies had left the dining…room； the gentlemen were not permitted to remain behind for very long； indeed； the short time allowed them for their wine…drinking formed the subjectso it was rumouredof one of the very few disputes between the Queen and her Prime Minis
