queen victoria-第8章

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er　Scott。

When　King　Leopold　learnt　that　King　William's　death　was　approaching；　he　wrote　several　long　letters　of　excellent　advice　to　his　niece。　〃In　every　letter　I　shall　write　to　you；〃　he　said；　〃I　mean　to　repeat　to　you；　as　a　FUNDAMENTAL　RULE；　TO　BE　FIRM；　AND　COURAGEOUS；　AND　HONEST；　AS　YOU　HAVE　BEEN　TILL　NOW。〃　For　the　rest；　in　the　crisis　that　was　approaching；　she　was　not　to　be　alarmed；　but　to　trust　in　her　〃good　natural　sense　and　the　TRUTH〃　of　her　character；　she　was　to　do　nothing　in　a　hurry；　to　hurt　no　one's　amour…propre；　and　to　continue　her　confidence　in　the　Whig　administration！　Not　content　with　letters；　however；　King　Leopold　determined　that　the　Princess　should　not　lack　personal　guidance；　and　sent　over　to　her　aid　the　trusted　friend　whom；　twenty　years　before；　he　had　taken　to　his　heart　by　the　death…bed　at　Claremont。　Thus；　once　again；　as　if　in　accordance　with　some　preordained　destiny；　the　figure　of　Stockmar　is　discernibleinevitably　present　at　a　momentous　hour。

On　June　18；　the　King　was　visibly　sinking。　The　Archbishop　of　Canterbury　was　by　his　side；　with　all　the　comforts　of　the　church。　Nor　did　the　holy　words　fall　upon　a　rebellious　spirit；　for　many　years　his　Majesty　had　been　a　devout　believer。　〃When　I　was　a　young　man；〃　he　once　explained　at　a　public　banquet；　〃as　well　as　I　can　remember；　I　believed　in　nothing　but　pleasure　and　follynothing　at　all。　But　when　I　went　to　sea；　got　into　a　gale；　and　saw　the　wonders　of　the　mighty　deep；　then　I　believed；　and　I　have　been　a　sincere　Christian　ever　since。〃　It　was　the　anniversary　of　the　Battle　of　Waterloo；　and　the　dying　man　remembered　it。　He　should　be　glad　to　live；　he　said；　over　that　day；　he　would　never　see　another　sunset。　〃I　hope　your　Majesty　may　live　to　see　many；〃　said　Dr。　Chambers。　〃Oh！　that's　quite　another　thing；　that's　quite　another　thing；〃　was　the　answer。　One　other　sunset　he　did　live　to　see；　and　he　died　in　the　early　hours　of　the　following　morning。　It　was　on　June　20；　1837。

When　all　was　over；　the　Archbishop　and　the　Lord　Chamberlain　ordered　a　carriage；　and　drove　post…haste　from　Windsor　to　Kensington。　They　arrived　at　the　Palace　at　five　o'clock；　and　it　was　only　with　considerable　difficulty　that　they　gained　admittance。　At　six　the　Duchess　woke　up　her　daughter；　and　told　her　that　the　Archbishop　of　Canterbury　and　Lord　Conyngham　were　there；　and　wished　to　see　her。　She　got　out　of　bed；　put　on　her　dressing…gown；　and　went；　alone；　into　the　room　where　the　messengers　were　standing。　Lord　Conyngham　fell　on　his　knees；　and　officially　announced　the　death　of　the　King；　the　Archbishop　added　some　personal　details。　Looking　at　the　bending；　murmuring　dignitaries　before　her；　she　knew　that　she　was　Queen　of　England。　〃Since　it　has　pleased　Providence；〃　she　wrote　that　day　in　her　journal；　〃to　place　me　in　this　station；　I　shall　do　my　utmost　to　fulfil　my　duty　towards　my　country；　I　am　very　young；　and　perhaps　in　many；　though　not　in　all　things；　inexperienced；　but　I　am　sure；　that　very　few　have　more　real　good　will　and　more　real　desire　to　do　what　is　fit　and　right　than　I　have。〃　But　there　was　scant　time　for　resolutions　and　reflections。　At　once；　affairs　were　thick　upon　her。　Stockmar　came　to　breakfast；　and　gave　some　good　advice。　She　wrote　a　letter　to　her　uncle　Leopold；　and　a　hurried　note　to　her　sister　Feodora。　A　letter　came　from　the　Prime　Minister；　Lord　Melbourne；　announcing　his　approaching　arrival。　He　came　at　nine；　in　full　court　dress；　and　kissed　her　hand。　She　saw　him　alone；　and　repeated　to　him　the　lesson　which；　no　doubt；　the　faithful　Stockmar　had　taught　her　at　breakfast。　〃It　has　long　been　my　intention　to　retain　your　Lordship　and　the　rest　of　the　present　Ministry　at　the　head　of　affairs；〃　whereupon　Lord　Melbourne　again　kissed　her　hand　and　shortly　after　left　her。　She　then　wrote　a　letter　of　condolence　to　Queen　Adelaide。　At　eleven；　Lord　Melbourne　came　again；　and　at　half…past　eleven　she　went　downstairs　into　the　red　saloon　to　hold　her　first　Council。　The　great　assembly　of　lords　and　notables；　bishops；　generals；　and　Ministers　of　State；　saw　the　doors　thrown　open　and　a　very　short；　very　slim　girl　in　deep　plain　mourning　come　into　the　room　alone　and　move　forward　to　her　seat　with　extraordinary　dignity　and　grace；　they　saw　a　countenance；　not　beautiful；　but　prepossessingfair　hair；　blue　prominent　eyes；　a　small　curved　nose；　an　open　mouth　revealing　the　upper　teeth；　a　tiny　chin；　a　clear　complexion；　and；　over　all；　the　strangely　mingled　signs　of　innocence；　of　gravity；　of　youth；　and　of　composure；　they　heard　a　high　unwavering　voice　reading　aloud　with　perfect　clarity；　and　then；　the　ceremony　was　over；　they　saw　the　small　figure　rise　and；　with　the　same　consummate　grace；　the　same　amazing　dignity；　pass　out　from　among　them；　as　she　had　come　in；　alone。



CHAPTER　III。　LORD　MELBOURNE

I

The　new　queen　was　almost　entirely　unknown　to　her　subjects。　In　her　public　appearances　her　mother　had　invariably　dominated　the　scene。　Her　private　life　had　been　that　of　a　novice　in　a　convent：　hardly　a　human　being　from　the　outside　world　had　ever　spoken　to　her；　and　no　human　being　at　all；　except　her　mother　and　the　Baroness　Lehzen；　had　ever　been　alone　with　her　in　a　room。　Thus　it　was　not　only　the　public　at　large　that　was　in　ignorance　of　everything　concerning　her；　the　inner　circles　of　statesmen　and　officials　and　high…born　ladies　were　equally　in　the　dark。　When　she　suddenly　emerged　from　this　deep　obscurity；　the　impression　that　she　created　was　immediate　and　profound。　Her　bearing　at　her　first　Council　filled　the　whole　gathering　with　astonishment　and　admiration；　the　Duke　of　Wellington；　Sir　Robert　Peel；　even　the　savage　Croker；　even　the　cold　and　caustic　Grevilleall　were　completely　carried　away。　Everything　that　was　reported　of　her　subsequent　proceedings　seemed　to　be　of　no　less　happy　augury。　Her　perceptions　were　quick；　her　decisions　were　sensible；　her　language　was　discreet；　she　performed　her　royal　duties　with　extraordinary　facility。　Among　the　outside　public　there　was　a　great　wave　of　enthusiasm。　Sentiment　and　romance　were　coming　into　fashion；　and　the　spectacle　of　the　little　girl…queen；　innocent；　modest；　with　fair　hair　and　pink　cheeks；　driving　through　her　capital；　filled　the　hearts　of　the　beholders　with　raptures　of　affectionate　loyalty。　What；　above　all；　struck　everybody　with　overwhelming　force　was　the　contrast　between　Queen　Victoria　and　her　uncles。　The　nasty　old　men；　debauched　and　selfish；　pig…headed　and　ridiculous；　with　their　perpetual　burden　of　debts；　confusions；　and　disreputabilitiesthey　had　vanished　like　the　snows　of　winter；　and　here　at　last；　crowned　and　radiant；　was　the　spring。　Lord　John　Russell；　in　an　elaborate　oration；　gave　voice　to　the　general　sentiment。　He　hoped　that　Victoria　might　prove　an　Elizabeth　without　her　tyranny；　an　Anne　without　her　weakness。　He　asked　England　to　pray　that　the　illustrious　Princess　who　had　just　ascended　the　throne　with　the　purest　intentions　and　the　justest　desires　might　see　slavery　abolished；　crime　diminished；　and　education　improved。　He　trusted　that　her　people　would　henceforward　derive　their　strength；　their　conduct；　and　their　loyalty　from　enlightened　religious　and　moral　principles；　and　that；　so　fortified；　the　reign　of　Victoria　might　prove　celebrated　to　posterity　and　to　all　the　nations　of　the　earth。

Very　soon；　however；　there　were　signs　that　the　future　might　turn　out　to　be　not　quite　so　simple　and　roseate　as　a　delighted　public　dreamed。　The　〃illustrious　Princess〃　might　perhaps；　after　all；　have　something　within　her　which　squared　ill　with　the　easy　vision　of　a　well…conducted　heroine　in　an　edifying　story…book。　The　purest　intentions　and　the　justest　desires？　No　doubt；　but　was　that　all？　To　those　who　watched　closely；　for　instance；　there　might　be　something　ominous　in　the　curious　contour　of　that　little　mouth。　When；　after　her　first　Council；　she　crossed　the　ante…room　and　found　her　mother　waiting　for　her；　she　said；　〃And　now；　Mamma；　am　I　really　and　truly　Queen？〃　〃You　see；　my　dear；　that　it　is　so。〃　〃Then；　dear　Mamma；　I　hope　you　will　grant　me　the　first　request　I　make　to　you；　as　Queen。　Let　me　be　by　myself　for　an　hour。〃　For　an　hour　she　remained　in　solitude。　Then　she　reappeared；　and　gave　a　significant　order：　her　bed　was　to　be　moved　out　of　her　mother's　room。　It　was　the　doom　of　the　Duchess　of　Kent。　The　long　years　of　waiting　were　over　at　last；　the　moment　of　a　lifetime　had　come；　her　daughter　was　Queen　of　England；　and　that　very　moment　brought　her　own　annihilation。　She　found　herself；　absolutely　and　irretrievably；　shut　off　from　every　vestige　of　influence；　of　confidence；　of　power。　She　was　surrounded；　indeed；　by　all　the　outward　signs　of　respect　and　consideration；　but　that　only　made　the　inward　truth　of　her　position　the　more　intolerable。　Through　the　mingled　formalities　of　Court　etiquette　and　filial　duty；　she　could　never　penetrate　to　Victoria。　She　was　unable　to　conceal　her　disappointment　and　her　rage。　〃I1　n'y　a　plus　d'avenir　pour　moi；〃　she　exclaimed　to　Madame　de　Lieven；　〃je　ne　suis　plus　rien。〃　For　eighteen　years；　she　said；　this　child　had　been　the　sole　object　of　her　existence；　of　her　thoughts；　her　hopes；　and　nowno！　she　would　not　be　comforted；　she　had　lost　everything；　she　was　to　the　last　degree　unhappy。　Sailing；　so　gallantly　and　so　pertinaciously；　through　the　buffeting　storms　of　life；　the　stately　vessel；　with　sails　still　swelling　and　pennons　flying；　had　put　into　harbour　at　last；　to　find　there　nothinga　land　of　bleak　desolation。

Within　a　month　of　the　accession；　the　realities　of　the　new　situation　assumed　a　visible　shape。　The　whole　royal　household　moved　from　Kensington　to　Buckingham　Palace；　and；　in　the　new　abode；　the　Duchess　of　Kent　was　given　a　suite　of　apartments　entirely　separate　from　the　Queen's。　By　Victoria　herself　the　change　was　welcomed；　though；　at　the　moment　of　departure；　she　could　afford　to　be　sentimental。　〃Though　I　rejoice　to　go　into　B。　P。　for　many　reasons；〃　she　wrote　in　her　diary；　〃it　is　not　without　feelings　of　regret　that　I　shall　bid　adieu　for　ever　to　this　my　birthplace；　where　I　have　been　born　and　bred；　and　to　which　I　am　really　attached！〃　Her　memory　lingered　for　a　moment　over　visions　of　the　past：　her　sister's　wedding；　pleasant　balls　and　delicious　concerts　and　there　were　other　recollections。　〃I　have　gone　through　painful　and　disagreeable　scenes　here；　'tis　true；〃　she　concluded；　〃but　still　I　am　fond　of　the　poor　old　palace。

At　the　same　time　she　took　another　decided　step。　She　had　determined　that　she　would　see　no　more　of　Sir　John　Conroy。　She　rewarded　his　past　services　with　liberality：　he　was　given　a　baronetcy　and　a　pension　of　L3000　a　year；　he　remained　a　member　of　the　Duchess's　household；　but　his　personal　intercourse　with　the　Queen　came　to　an　abrupt　conclusion。

II

It　was　clear　that　these　interior　changeswhatever　else　they　might　betokenmarked　the　triumph　of　one　personthe　Baroness　Lehzen。　The　pastor's　daughter　observed　the　ruin　of　her　enemies。　Discreet　and　victorious；　she　remained　in　possession　of　the　field。　More　closely　than　ever　did　she　cleave　to　the　side　of　her　mistress；　her　pupil；　and　her　friend；　and　in　the　recesses　of　the　palace　her　mysterious　figure　was　at　once　invisible　and　omnipresent。　When　the　Queen's　Ministers　came　in　at　one　door；　the　Baroness　went　out　by　another；　when　they　retired；　she　immediately　returned。　Nobody　knewnobody　ever　will　knowthe　precise　extent　and　the　precise　nature　of　her　influence。　She　herself　declared　that　she　never　discussed　public　affairs　with　the　Queen；　that　she　was　concerned　with　private　m