queen victoria-第15章
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d the subjectso it was rumouredof one of the very few disputes between the Queen and her Prime Minister；＇*＇ but her determination carried the day； and from that moment after…dinner drunkenness began to go out of fashion。 When the company was reassembled in the drawing…room the etiquette was stiff。 For a few moments the Queen spoke in turn to each one of her guests； and during these short uneasy colloquies the aridity of royalty was apt to become painfully evident。 One night Mr。 Greville； the Clerk of the Privy Council； was present； his turn soon came； the middle…aged； hard…faced viveur was addressed by his young hostess。 〃Have you been riding to…day； Mr。 Greville？〃 asked the Queen。 〃No； Madam； I have not；〃 replied Mr。 Greville。 〃It was a fine day；〃 continued the Queen。 〃Yes； Madam； a very fine day；〃 said Mr。 Greville。 〃It was rather cold； though；〃 said the Queen。 〃It was rather cold； Madam；〃 said Mr。 Greville。 〃Your sister； Lady Frances Egerton； rides； I think； doesn't she？〃 said the Queen。 〃She does ride sometimes； Madam；〃 said Mr。 Greville。 There was a pause； after which Mr。 Greville ventured to take the lead； though he did not venture to change the subject。 〃Has your Majesty been riding today？〃 asked Mr。 Greville。 〃Oh yes； a very long ride；〃 answered the Queen with animation。 〃Has your Majesty got a nice horse？〃 said Mr。 Greville。 〃Oh； a very nice horse；〃 said the Queen。 It was over。 Her Majesty gave a smile and an inclination of the head； Mr。 Greville a profound bow； and the next conversation began with the next gentleman。 When all the guests had been disposed of； the Duchess of Kent sat down to her whist； while everybody else was ranged about the round table。 Lord Melbourne sat beside the Queen； and talked pertinaciouslyvery often a propos to the contents of one of the large albums of engravings with which the round table was covereduntil it was half…past eleven and time to go to bed。
＇*＇ The Duke of Bedford told Greville he was 〃sure there was a battle between her and Melbourne。。。 He is sure there was one about the men's sitting after dinner； for he heard her say to him rather angrily； 'it is a horrid custom…' but when the ladies left the room （he dined there） directions were given that the men should remain five minutes longer。〃 Greville Memoirs； February 26； 1840 （unpublished）。
Occasionally； there were little diversions： the evening might be spent at the opera or at the play。 Next morning the royal critic was careful to note down her impressions。 〃It was Shakespeare's tragedy of Hamlet； and we came in at the beginning of it。 Mr。 Charles Kean （son of old Kean） acted the part of Hamlet； and I must say beautifully。 His conception of this very difficult； and I may almost say incomprehensible； character is admirable； his delivery of all the fine long speeches quite beautiful； he is excessively graceful and all his actions and attitudes are good； though not at all good…looking in face。。。 I came away just as Hamlet was over。〃 Later on； she went to see Macready in King Lear。 The story was new to her； she knew nothing about it； and at first she took very little interest in what was passing on the stage； she preferred to chatter and laugh with the Lord Chamberlain。 But； as the play went on； her mood changed； her attention was fixed； and then she laughed no more。 Yet she was puzzled； it seemed a strange； a horrible business。 What did Lord M。 think？ Lord M。 thought it was a very fine play； but to be sure； 〃a rough； coarse play； written for those times； with exaggerated characters。〃 〃I'm glad you've seen it；〃 he added。 But； undoubtedly； the evenings which she enjoyed most were those on which there was dancing。 She was always ready enough to seize any excusethe arrival of cousinsa birthdaya gathering of young peopleto give the command for that。 Then； when the band played； and the figures of the dancers swayed to the music； and she felt her own figure swaying too； with youthful spirits so close on every sidethen her happiness reached its height； her eyes sparkled； she must go on and on into the small hours of the morning。 For a moment Lord M。 himself was forgotten。
V
The months flew past。 The summer was over： 〃the pleasantest summer I EVER passed in MY LIFE； and I shall never forget this first summer of my reign。〃 With surprising rapidity； another summer was upon her。 The coronation came and wenta curious dream。 The antique； intricate； endless ceremonial worked itself out as best it could； like some machine of gigantic complexity which was a little out of order。 The small central figure went through her gyrations。 She sat； she walked； she prayed； she carried about an orb that was almost too heavy to hold； the Archbishop of Canterbury came and crushed a ring upon the wrong finger； so that she was ready to cry out with the pain； old Lord Rolle tripped up in his mantle and fell down the steps as he was doing homage； she was taken into a side chapel； where the altar was covered with a table…cloth； sandwiches； and bottles of wine； she perceived Lehzen in an upper box and exchanged a smile with her as she sat； robed and crowned； on the Confessor's throne。 〃I shall ever remember this day as the PROUDEST of my life；〃 she noted。 But the pride was soon merged once more in youth and simplicity。 When she returned to Buckingham Palace at last she was not tired； she ran up to her private rooms； doffed her splendours； and gave her dog Dash its evening bath。
Life flowed on again with its accustomed smoothnessthough； of course； the smoothness was occasionally disturbed。 For one thing； there was the distressing behaviour of Uncle Leopold。 The King of the Belgians had not been able to resist attempting to make use of his family position to further his diplomatic ends。 But； indeed； why should there be any question of resisting？ Was not such a course of conduct； far from being a temptation； simply 〃selon les regles？〃 What were royal marriages for； if they did not enable sovereigns； in spite of the hindrances of constitutions； to control foreign politics？ For the highest purposes； of course； that was understood。 The Queen of England was his niecemore than thatalmost his daughter； his confidential agent was living； in a position of intimate favour； at her court。 Surely； in such circumstances； it would be preposterous； it would be positively incorrect； to lose the opportunity of bending to his wishes by means of personal influence； behind the backs of the English Ministers； the foreign policy of England。
He set about the task with becoming precautions。 He continued in his letters his admirable advice。 Within a few days of her accession； he recommended the young Queen to lay emphasis； on every possible occasion； upon her English birth； to praise the English nation； 〃the Established Church I also recommend strongly； you cannot； without PLEDGING yourself to anything PARTICULAR； SAY TOO MUCH ON THE SUBJECT。〃 And then 〃before you decide on anything important I should be glad if you would consult me； this would also have the advantage of giving you time；〃 nothing was more injurious than to be hurried into wrong decisions unawares。 His niece replied at once with all the accustomed warmth of her affection； but she wrote hurriedlyand； perhaps； a trifle vaguely too。 〃YOUR advice is always of the GREATEST IMPORTANCE to me；〃 she said。
Had he； possibly； gone too far？ He could not be certain； perhaps Victoria HAD been hurried。 In any case； he would be careful； he would draw back〃pour mieux sauter〃 he added to himself with a smile。 In his next letters he made no reference to his suggestion of consultations with himself； he merely pointed out the wisdom； in general； of refusing to decide upon important questions off…hand。 So far； his advice was taken； and it was noticed that the Queen； when applications were made to her； rarely gave an immediate answer。 Even with Lord Melbourne； it was the same； when he asked for her opinion upon any subject； she would reply that she would think it over； and tell him her conclusions next day。
King Leopold's counsels continued。 The Princess de Lieven； he said； was a dangerous woman； there was reason to think that she would make attempts to pry into what did not concern her； let Victoria beware。 〃A rule which I cannot suffici
