queen victoria-第17章
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art to finish the unmoved Queen remained the devoted niece。 Leopold himself must have envied such perfect correctitude； but what may be admirable in an elderly statesman is alarming in a maiden of nineteen。 And privileged observers were not without their fears。 The strange mixture of ingenuous light…heartedness and fixed determination； of frankness and reticence； of childishness and pride； seemed to augur a future that was perplexed and full of dangers。 As time passed the less pleasant qualities in this curious composition revealed themselves more often and more seriously。 There were signs of an imperious； a peremptory temper； an egotism that was strong and hard。 It was noticed that the palace etiquette； far from relaxing； grew ever more and more inflexible。 By some； this was attributed to Lehzen's influence； but； if that was so； Lehzen had a willing pupil； for the slightest infringements of the freezing rules of regularity and deference were invariably and immediately visited by the sharp and haughty glances of the Queen。 Yet Her Majesty's eyes； crushing as they could be； were less crushing than her mouth。 The self…will depicted in those small projecting teeth and that small receding chin was of a more dismaying kind than that which a powerful jaw betokens； it was a selfwill imperturbable； impenetrable； unintelligent； a self…will dangerously akin to obstinacy。 And the obstinacy of monarchs is not as that of other men。
Within two years of her accession； the storm…clouds which； from the first； had been dimly visible on the horizon； gathered and burst。 Victoria's relations with her mother had not improved。 The Duchess of Kent； still surrounded by all the galling appearances of filial consideration； remained in Buckingham Palace a discarded figure； powerless and inconsolable。 Sir John Conroy； banished from the presence of the Queen； still presided over the Duchess's household； and the hostilities of Kensington continued unabated in the new surroundings。 Lady Flora Hastings still cracked her malicious jokes； the animosity of the Baroness was still unappeased。 One day； Lady Flora found the joke was turned against her。 Early in 1839； travelling in the suite of the Duchess； she had returned from Scotland in the same carriage with Sir John。 A change in her figure became the subject of an unseemly jest； tongues wagged； and the jest grew serious。 It was whispered that Lady Flora was with child。 The state of her health seemed to confirm the suspicion； she consulted Sir James Clark； the royal physician； and； after the consultation； Sir James let his tongue wag； too。 On this； the scandal flared up sky…high。 Everyone was talking； the Baroness was not surprised； the Duchess rallied tumultuously to the support of her lady； the Queen was informed。 At last the extraordinary expedient of a medical examination was resorted to； during which Sir James； according to Lady Flora； behaved with brutal rudeness； while a second doctor was extremely polite。 Finally； both physicians signed a certificate entirely exculpating the lady。 But this was by no means the end of the business。 The Hastings family； socially a very powerful one； threw itself into the fray with all the fury of outraged pride and injured innocence； Lord Hastings insisted upon an audience of the Queen； wrote to the papers； and demanded the dismissal of Sir James Clark。 The Queen expressed her regret to Lady Flora； but Sir James Clark was not dismissed。 The tide of opinion turned violently against the Queen and her advisers； high society was disgusted by all this washing of dirty linen in Buckingham Palace； the public at large was indignant at the ill…treatment of Lady Flora。 By the end of March； the popularity； so radiant and so abundant； with which the young Sovereign had begun her reign； had entirely disappeared。
There can be no doubt that a great lack of discretion had been shown by the Court。 Ill…natured tittle…tattle； which should have been instantly nipped in the bud； had been allowed to assume disgraceful proportions； and the Throne itself had become involved in the personal malignities of the palace。 A particularly awkward question had been raised by the position of Sir James Clark。 The Duke of Wellington； upon whom it was customary to fall back； in cases of great difficulty in high places； had been consulted upon this question； and he had given it as his opinion that； as it would be impossible to remove Sir James without a public enquiry； Sir James must certainly stay where he was。 Probably the Duke was right； but the fact that the peccant doctor continued in the Queen's service made the Hastings family irreconcilable and produced an unpleasant impression of unrepentant error upon the public mind。 As for Victoria； she was very young and quite inexperienced； and she can hardly be blamed for having failed to control an extremely difficult situation。 That was clearly Lord Melbourne's task； he was a man of the world； and； with vigilance and circumspection； he might have quietly put out the ugly flames while they were still smouldering。 He did not do so； he was lazy and easy…going； the Baroness was persistent； and he let things slide。 But doubtless his position was not an easy one； passions ran high in the palace； and Victoria was not only very young； she was very headstrong； too。 Did he possess the magic bridle which would curb that fiery steed？ He could not be certain。 And then； suddenly； another violent crisis revealed more unmistakably than ever the nature of the mind with which he had to deal。
VII
The Queen had for long been haunted by a terror that the day might come when she would be obliged to part with her Minister。 Ever since the passage of the Reform Bill； the power of the Whig Government had steadily declined。 The General Election of 1837 had left them with a very small majority in the House of Commons； since then； they had been in constant difflcultiesabroad； at home； in Ireland； the Radical group had grown hostile； it became highly doubtful how much longer they could survive。 The Queen watched the development of events in great anxiety。 She was a Whig by birth； by upbringing； by every association； public and private； and； even if those ties had never existed； the mere fact that Lord M。 was the head of the Whigs would have amply sufficed to determine her politics。 The fall of the Whigs would mean a sad upset for Lord M。 But it would have a still more terrible consequence： Lord M。 would have to leave her； and the daily； the hourly； presence of Lord M。 had become an integral part of her life。 Six months after her accession she had noted in her diary 〃I shall be very sorry to lose him even for one night；〃 and this feeling of personal dependence on her Minister steadily increased。 In these circumstances it was natural that she should have become a Whig partisan。 Of the wider significance of political questions she knew nothing； all she saw was that her friends were in office and about her； and that it would be dreadful if they ceased to be so。 〃I cannot say；〃 she wrote when a critical division was impending； 〃（though I feel confident of our success） how low； how sad I feel； when I think of the possibility of this excellent and truly kind man not remaining my Minister！ Yet I trust ferventIy that He who has so wonderfully protected me through such manifold difficulties will not now desert me！ I should have liked to have expressed to Lord M。 my anxiety； but the tears were nearer than words throughout the time I saw him； and I felt I should have choked； had I attempted to say anything。〃 Lord Melbourne realised clearly enough how undesirable was such a state of mind in a constitutional sovereign who might be called upon at any moment to receive as her Ministers the leaders of the opposite party； he did what he could to cool her ardour； but in vain。
With considerable lack of foresight； too； he had himself helped to bring about this unfortunate condition of affairs。 From the moment of her accession； he had surrounded the Queen with ladies of his own party； the Mistress of the Robes and all the Ladies of the Bedchamber were Whigs。 In the ordinary course； the Queen never saw a Tory： eventually she took pains never to see one in any circumstances。 She disliked the whole tribe； an
