queen victoria-第26章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ast。 In Victoria's eyes； life had become an idyll； and； if the essential elements of an idyll are happiness； love and simplicity； an idyll it was； though； indeed； it was of a kind that might have disconcerted Theocritus。 〃Albert brought in dearest little Pussy；〃 wrote Her Majesty in her journal； 〃in such a smart white merino dress trimmed with blue； which Mamma had given her； and a pretty cap； and placed her on my bed； seating himself next to her； and she was very dear and good。 And； as my precious； invaluable Albert sat there； and our little Love between us； I felt quite moved with happiness and gratitude to God。〃
The pastthe past of only three years sincewhen she looked back upon it； seemed a thing so remote and alien that she could explain it to herself in no other way than as some kind of delusionan unfortunate mistake。 Turning over an old volume of her diary； she came upon this sentence〃As for 'the confidence of the Crown；' God knows！ No MINISTER； NO FRIEND； EVER possessed it so entirely as this truly excellent Lord Melbourne possesses mine！〃 A pang shot through hershe seized a pen； and wrote upon the margin〃Reading this again； I cannot forbear remarking what an artificial sort of happiness MINE was THEN； and what a blessing it is I have now in my beloved Husband REAL and solid happiness； which no Politics； no worldly reverses CAN change； it could not have lasted long as it was then； for after all； kind and excellent as Lord M。 is； and kind as he was to me； it was but in Society that I had amusement； and I was only living on that superficial resource； which I THEN FANCIED was happiness！ Thank God！ for ME and others； this is changed； and I KNOW WHAT REAL HAPPINESS ISV。 R。〃 How did she know？ What is the distinction between happiness that is real and happiness that is felt？ So a philosopherLord M。 himself perhapsmight have inquired。 But she was no philosopher； and Lord M。 was a phantom； and Albert was beside her； and that was enough。
Happy； certainly； she was； and she wanted everyone to know it。 Her letters to King Leopold are sprinkled thick with raptures。 〃Oh！ my dearest uncle； I am sure if you knew HOW happy； how blessed I feel； and how PROUD I feel in possessing SUCH a perfect being as my husband。。。〃 such ecstasies seemed to gush from her pen unceasingly and almost of their own accord。 When； one day； without thinking； Lady Lyttelton described someone to her as being 〃as happy as a queen；〃 and then grew a little confused； 〃Don't correct yourself； Lady Lyttelton；〃 said Her Majesty。 〃A queen IS a very happy woman。〃
But this new happiness was no lotus dream。 On the contrary； it was bracing； rather than relaxing。 Never before had she felt so acutely the necessity for doing her duty。 She worked more methodically than ever at the business of State； she watched over her children with untiring vigilance。 She carried on a large correspondence； she was occupied with her farmher dairya whole multitude of household avocationsfrom morning till night。 Her active； eager little body hurrying with quick steps after the long strides of Albert down the corridors and avenues of Windsor； seemed the very expression of her spirit。 Amid all the softness； the deliciousness of unmixed joy； all the liquescence； the overflowings of inexhaustible sentiment； her native rigidity remained。 〃A vein of iron；〃 said Lady Lyttelton； who； as royal governess； had good means of observation； 〃runs through her most extraordinary character。〃 Sometimes the delightful routine of domestic existence had to be interrupted。 It was necessary to exchange Windsor for Buckingham Palace； to open Parliament； or to interview official personages； or； occasionally； to entertain foreign visitors at the Castle。 Then the quiet Court put on a sudden magnificence； and sovereigns from over the seasLouis Philippe； or the King of Prussia； or the King of Saxonyfound at Windsor an entertainment that was indeed a royal one。 Few spectacles in Europe； it was agreed； produced an effect so imposing as the great Waterloo banqueting hall； crowded with guests in sparkling diamonds and blazing uniforms； the long walls hung with the stately portraits of heroes； and the tables loaded with the gorgeous gold plate of the kings of England。 But； in that wealth of splendour； the most imposing spectacle of all was the Queen。 The little hausfrau； who had spent the day before walking out with her children； inspecting her livestock； practicing shakes at the piano； and filling up her journal with adoring descriptions of her husband； suddenly shone forth； without art； without effort； by a spontaneous and natural transition； the very culmination of Majesty。 The Tsar of Russia himself was deeply impressed。 Victoria on her side viewed with secret awe the tremendous Nicholas。 〃A great event and a great compliment HIS visit certainly is；〃 she told her uncle； 〃and the people HERE are extremely flattered at it。 He is certainly a VERY STRIKING man； still very handsome。 His profile is BEAUTIFUL and his manners MOST dignified and graceful； extremely civilquite alarmingly so； as he is so full of attentions and POLITENESS。 But the expression of the EYES is FORMIDABLE and unlike anything I ever saw before。〃 She and Albert and 〃the good King of Saxony；〃 who happened to be there at the same time； and whom； she said； 〃we like muchhe is so unassuming…〃 drew together like tame villatic fowl in the presence of that awful eagle。 When he was gone； they compared notes about his face； his unhappiness； and his despotic power over millions。 Well！ She for her part could not help pitying him； and she thanked God she was Queen of England。
When the time came for returning some of these visits； the royal pair set forth in their yacht； much to Victoria's satisfaction。 〃I do love a ship！〃 she exclaimed； ran up and down ladders with the greatest agility； and cracked jokes with the sailors。 The Prince was more aloof。 They visited Louis Philippe at the Chateau d'Eu； they visited King Leopold in Brussels。 It happened that a still more remarkable Englishwoman was in the Belgian capital； but she was not remarked； and Queen Victoria passed unknowing before the steady gaze of one of the mistresses in M。 Heger's pensionnat。 〃A little stout； vivacious lady； very plainly dressednot much dignity or pretension about her；〃 was Charlotte Bronte's comment as the royal carriage and six flashed by her； making her wait on the pavement for a moment； and interrupting the train of her reflections。 Victoria was in high spirits； and even succeeded in instilling a little cheerfulness into her uncle's sombre Court。 King Leopold； indeed； was perfectly contented。 His dearest hopes had been fulfilled； all his ambitions were satisfied； and for the rest of his life he had only to enjoy； in undisturbed decorum； his throne； his respectability； the table of precedence； and the punctual discharge of his irksome duties。 But unfortunately the felicity of those who surrounded him was less complete。 His Court； it was murmured； was as gloomy as a conventicle； and the most dismal of all the sufferers was his wife。 〃Pas de plaisanteries； madame！〃 he had exclaimed to the unfortunate successor of the Princess Charlotte； when； in the early days of their marriage； she had attempted a feeble joke。 Did she not understand that the consort of a constitutional sovereign must not be frivolous？ She understood； at last； only too well； and when the startled walls of the state apartments re…echoed to the chattering and the laughter of Victoria； the poor lady found that she had almost forgotten how to smile。
Another year； Germany was visited； and Albert displayed the beauties of his home。 When Victoria crossed the frontier； she was much excitedand she was astonished as well。 〃To hear the people speak German；〃 she noted in her diary； 〃and to see the German soldiers； etc。； seemed to me so singular。〃 Having recovered from this slight shock； she found the country charming。 She was feted everywhere； crowds of the surrounding royalties swooped down to welcome her； and the prettiest groups of peasant children； dressed in their best clothes； presented her with bunches of flowers。 The principality of Coburg； with its romantic scenery and its well…behaved inhabitants； particularly delighted her； an
