queen victoria-第24章
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he energy of disinterested devotion； had determined should be Albert's was a tremendous prize indeed。
The beginning of the undertaking proved to be the most arduous part of it。 Albert was easily dispirited： what was the use of struggling to perform in a role which bored him and which； it was quite clear； nobody but the dear good Baron had any desire that he should take up？ It was simpler； and it saved a great deal of trouble； to let things slide。 But Stockmar would not have it。 Incessantly； he harped upon two stringsAlbert's sense of duty and his personal pride。 Had the Prince forgotten the noble aims to which his life was to be devoted？ And was he going to allow himself； his wife； his family； his whole existence； to be governed by Baroness Lehzen？ The latter consideration was a potent one。 Albert had never been accustomed to giving way； and now； more than ever before； it would be humiliating to do so。 Not only was he constantly exasperated by the position of the Baroness in the royal household； there was another and a still more serious cause of complaint。 He was； he knew very well； his wife's intellectual superior； and yet he found； to his intense annoyance； that there were parts of her mind over which he exercised no influence。 When； urged on by the Baron； he attempted to discuss politics with Victoria； she eluded the subject； drifted into generalities； and then began to talk of something else。 She was treating him as she had once treated their uncle Leopold。 When at last he protested； she replied that her conduct was merely the result of indolence； that when she was with him she could not bear to bother her head with anything so dull as politics。 The excuse was worse than the fault： was he the wife and she the husband？ It almost seemed so。 But the Baron declared that the root of the mischief was Lehzen： that it was she who encouraged the Queen to have secrets； who did worseundermined the natural ingenuousness of Victoria； and induced her to give； unconsciously no doubt； false reasons to explain away her conduct。
Minor disagreements made matters worse。 The royal couple differed in their tastes。 Albert； brought up in a regime of Spartan simplicity and early hours； found the great Court functions intolerably wearisome； and was invariably observed to be nodding on the sofa at half…past ten； while the Queen's favourite form of enjoyment was to dance through the night； and then； going out into the portico of the Palace； watch the sun rise behind St。 Paul's and the towers of Westminster。 She loved London and he detested it。 It was only in Windsor that he felt he could really breathe； but Windsor too had its terrors： though during the day there he could paint and walk and play on the piano； after dinner black tedium descended like a pall。 He would have liked to summon distinguished scientific and literary men to his presence； and after ascertaining their views upon various points of art and learning； to set forth his own； but unfortunately Victoria 〃had no fancy to encourage such people；〃 knowing that she was unequal to taking a part in their conversation； she insisted that the evening routine should remain unaltered； the regulation interchange of platitudes with official persons was followed as usual by the round table and the books of engravings； while the Prince； with one of his attendants； played game after game of double chess。
It was only natural that in so peculiar a situation； in which the elements of power； passion； and pride were so strangely apportioned； there should have been occasionally something more than mere irritationa struggle of angry wills。 Victoria； no more than Albert； was in the habit of playing second fiddle。 Her arbitrary temper flashed out。 Her vitality； her obstinacy； her overweening sense of her own position； might well have beaten down before them his superiorities and his rights。 But she fought at a disadvantage； she was； in very truth； no longer her own mistress； a profound preoccupation dominated her； seizing upon her inmost purposes for its own extraordinary ends。 She was madly in love。 The details of those curious battles are unknown to us； but Prince Ernest； who remained in England with his brother for some months； noted them with a friendly and startled eye。 One story； indeed； survives； ill…authenticated and perhaps mythical； yet summing up； as such stories often do； the central facts of the case。 When； in wrath； the Prince one day had locked himself into his room； Victoria； no less furious； knocked on the door to be admitted。 〃Who is there？〃 he asked。 〃The Queen of England〃 was the answer。 He did not move； and again there was a hail of knocks。 The question and the answer were repeated many times； but at last there was a pause； and then a gentler knocking。 〃Who is there？〃 came once more the relentless question。 But this time the reply was different。 〃Your wife； Albert。〃 And the door was immediately opened。
Very gradually the Prince's position changed。 He began to find the study of politics less uninteresting than he had supposed； he read Blackstone； and took lessons in English Law； he was occasionally present when the Queen interviewed her Ministers； and at Lord Melbourne's suggestion he was shown all the despatches relating to Foreign Affairs。 Sometimes he would commit his views to paper； and read them aloud to the Prime Minister； who； infinitely kind and courteous； listened with attention； but seldom made any reply。 An important step was taken when； before the birth of the Princess Royal； the Prince； without any opposition in Parliament； was appointed Regent in case of the death of the Queen。 Stockmar； owing to whose intervention with the Tories this happy result had been brought about； now felt himself at liberty to take a holiday with his family in Coburg； but his solicitude； poured out in innumerable letters； still watched over his pupil from afar。 〃Dear Prince；〃 he wrote； 〃I am satisfied with the news you have sent me。 Mistakes； misunderstandings； obstructions； which come in vexatious opposition to one's views； are always to be taken for just what they arenamely； natural phenomena of life； which represent one of its sides； and that the shady one。 In overcoming them with dignity； your mind has to exercise； to train； to enlighten itself； and your character to gain force； endurance； and the necessary hardness。〃 The Prince had done well so far； but he must continue in the right path； above all； he was 〃never to relax。〃 〃Never to relax in putting your magnanimity to the proof； never to relax in logical separation of what is great and essential from what is trivial and of no moment； never to relax in keeping yourself up to a high standardin the determination； daily renewed； to be consistent； patient； courageous。〃 It was a hard programme perhaps； for a young man of twenty…one； and yet there was something in it which touched the very depths of Albert's soul。 He sighed； but he listenedlistened as to the voice of a spiritual director inspired with divine truth。 〃The stars which are needful to you now；〃 the voice continued； 〃and perhaps for some time to come； are Love； Honesty； Truth。 All those whose minds are warped； or who are destitute of true feeling； will BE APT TO MISTAKE YOU； and to persuade themselves and the world that you are not the man you areor； at least； may become。。。 Do you； therefore； be on the alert be times； with your eyes open in every direction。。。 I wish for my Prince a great； noble； warm； and true heart； such as shall serve as the richest and surest basis for the noblest views of human nature； and the firmest resolve to give them development。〃
Before long； the decisive moment came。 There was a General Election； and it became certain that the Tories； at last； must come into power。 The Queen disliked them as much as ever； but； with a large majority in the House of Commons； they would now be in a position to insist upon their wishes being attended to。 Lord Melbourne himself was the first to realise the importance of carrying out the inevitable transition with as little friction as possible； and with his consent； the Prince； following up the rapprochement which had begun over the Regency Act； opened； through Anson； a negotiation with Sir Robert Peel。 In a series of secret int
