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第8章

queen victoria-第8章

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en she was delighted by the arrival of a couple of boys from Wurtemberg; the Princes Alexander and Ernst; sons of her mother's sister and the reigning duke。 〃They are both EXTREMELY TALL;〃 she noted; 〃Alexander is VERY HANDSOME; and Ernst has a VERY KIND EXPRESSION。 They are both extremely AMIABLE。〃 And their departure filled her with corresponding regrets。 〃We saw them get into the barge; and watched them sailing away for some time on the beach。 They were so amiable and so pleasant to have in the house; they were ALWAYS SATISFIED; ALWAYS GOOD…HUMOURED; Alexander took such care of me in getting out of the boat; and rode next to me; so did Ernst。〃 Two years later; two other cousins arrived; the Princes Ferdinand and Augustus。 〃Dear Ferdinand;〃 the Princess wrote; 〃has elicited universal admiration from all parties。。。 He is so very unaffected; and has such a very distinguished appearance and carriage。 They are both very dear and charming young men。 Augustus is very amiable; too; and; when known; shows much good sense。〃 On another occasion; Dear Ferdinand came and sat near me and talked so dearly and sensibly。 I do SO love him。 Dear Augustus sat near me and talked with me; and he is also a dear good young man; and is very handsome。〃 She could not quite decide which was the handsomer of the two。 〃On the whole;〃 she concluded; 〃I think Ferdinand handsomer than Augustus; his eyes are so beautiful; and he has such a lively clever expression; BOTH have such a sweet expression; Ferdinand has something QUITE BEAUTIFUL in his expression when he speaks and smiles; and he is SO good。〃 However; it was perhaps best to say that they were 〃both very handsome and VERY DEAR。〃 But shortly afterwards two more cousins arrived; who threw all the rest into the shade。 These were the Princes Ernest and Albert; sons of her mother's eldest brother; the Duke of Saxe…Coburg。 This time the Princess was more particular in her observations。 〃Ernest;〃 she remarked;〃 is as tall as Ferdinand and Augustus; he has dark hair; and fine dark eyes and eyebrows; but the nose and mouth are not good; he has a most kind; honest; and intelligent expression in his countenance; and has a very good figure。 Albert; who is just as tall as Ernest but stouter; is extremely handsome; his hair is about the same colour as mine; his eyes are large and blue; and he has a beautiful nose and a very sweet mouth with fine teeth; but the charm of his countenance is his expression; which is most delightful; c'est a la fois full of goodness and sweetness; and very clever and intelligent。〃 〃Both my cousins;〃 she added; 〃are so kind and good; they are much more formes and men of the world than Augustus; they speak English very well; and I speak it with them。 Ernest will be 18 years old on the 21st of June; and Albert 17 on the 26th of August。 Dear Uncle Ernest made me the present of a most delightful Lory; which is so tame that it remains on your hand and you may put your finger into its beak; or do anything with it; without its ever attempting to bite。 It is larger than Mamma's grey parrot。〃 A little later; 〃I sat between my dear cousins on the sofa and we looked at drawings。 They both draw very well; particularly Albert; and are both exceedingly fond of music; they play very nicely on the piano。 The more I see them the more I am delighted with them; and the more I love them。。。 It is delightful to be with them; they are so fond of being occupied too; they are quite an example for any young person。〃 When; after a stay of three weeks; the time came for the young men and their father to return to Germany; the moment of parting was a melancholy one。 〃It was our last HAPPY HAPPY breakfast; with this dear Uncle and those DEAREST beloved cousins; whom I DO love so VERY VERY dearly; MUCH MORE DEARLY than any other cousins in the WORLD。 Dearly as I love Ferdinand; and also good Augustus; I love Ernest and Albert MORE than them; oh yes; MUCH MORE。。。 They have both learnt a good deal; and are very clever; naturally clever; particularly Albert; who is the most reflecting of the two; and they like very much talking about serious and instructive things and yet are so VERY VERY merry and gay and happy; like young people ought to be; Albert always used to have some fun and some clever witty answer at breakfast and everywhere; he used to play and fondle Dash so funnily too。。。 Dearest Albert was playing on the piano when I came down。 At 11 dear Uncle; my DEAREST BELOVED cousins; and Charles; left us; accompanied by Count Kolowrat。 I embraced both my dearest cousins most warmly; as also my dear Uncle。 I cried bitterly; very bitterly。〃 The Princes shared her ecstasies and her italics between them; but it is clear enough where her secret preference lay。 〃Particularly Albert!〃 She was just seventeen; and deep was the impression left upon that budding organism by the young man's charm and goodness and accomplishments; and his large blue eyes and beautiful nose; and his sweet mouth and fine teeth。

IV

King William could not away with his sister…in…law; and the Duchess fully returned his antipathy。 Without considerable tact and considerable forbearance their relative positions were well calculated to cause ill…feeling; and there was very little tact in the composition of the Duchess; and no forbearance at all in that of his Majesty。 A bursting; bubbling old gentleman; with quarterdeck gestures; round rolling eyes; and a head like a pineapple; his sudden elevation to the throne after fifty…six years of utter insignificance had almost sent him crazy。 His natural exuberance completely got the best of him; he rushed about doing preposterous things in an extraordinary manner; spreading amusement and terror in every direction; and talking all the time。 His tongue was decidedly Hanoverian; with its repetitions; its catchwords〃That's quite another thing! That's quite another thing!〃its rattling indomitability; its loud indiscreetness。 His speeches; made repeatedly at the most inopportune junctures; and filled pell…mell with all the fancies and furies that happened at the moment to be whisking about in his head; were the consternation of Ministers。 He was one part blackguard; people said; and three parts buffoon; but those who knew him better could not help liking himhe meant well; and he was really good…humoured and kind…hearted; if you took him the right way。 If you took him the wrong way; however; you must look out for squalls; as the Duchess of Kent discovered。

She had no notion of how to deal with himcould not understand him in the least。 Occupied with her own position; her own responsibilities; her duty; and her daughter; she had no attention to spare for the peppery susceptibilities of a foolish; disreputable old man。 She was the mother of the heiress of England; and it was for him to recognise the factto put her at once upon a proper footingto give her the precedence of a dowager Princess of Wales; with a large annuity from the privy purse。 It did not occur to her that such pretensions might be galling to a king who had no legitimate child of his own; and who yet had not altogether abandoned the hope of having one。 She pressed on; with bulky vigour; along the course she had laid out。 Sir John Conroy; an Irishman with no judgment and a great deal of self…importance; was her intimate counsellor; and egged her on。 It was advisable that Victoria should become acquainted with the various districts of England; and through several summers a succession of toursin the West; in the Midlands; in Waleswere arranged for her。 The intention of the plan was excellent; but its execution was unfortunate。 The journeys; advertised in the Press; attracting enthusiastic crowds; and involving official receptions; took on the air of royal progresses。 Addresses were presented by loyal citizens; the delighted Duchess; swelling in sweeping feathers and almost obliterating the diminutive Princess; read aloud; in her German accent; gracious replies prepared beforehand by Sir John; who; bustling and ridiculous; seemed to be mingling the roles of major…domo and Prime Minister。 Naturally the King fumed over his newspaper at Windsor。 〃That woman is a nuisance!〃 he exclaimed。 Poor Queen Adelaide; amiable though disappointed; did her best to smooth thi

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