queen victoria-第12节
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ing over the pages of the Bible。 To the ladies whom he most liked； he would lend some learned work on the Revelation； crammed with marginal notes in his own hand； or Dr。 Lardner's 〃Observations upon the Jewish Errors with respect to the Conversion of Mary Magdalene。〃 The more pious among them had high hopes that these studies would lead him into the right way； but of this there were no symptoms in his after…dinner conversations。
The paradox of his political career was no less curious。 By temperament an aristocrat； by conviction a conservative； he came to power as the leader of the popular party； the party of change。 He had profoundly disliked the Reform Bill； which he had only accepted at last as a necessary evil； and the Reform Bill lay at the root of the very existence； of the very meaning； of his government。 He was far too sceptical to believe in progress of any kind。 Things were best as they were or rather； they were least bad。 〃You'd better try to do no good；〃 was one of his dictums； 〃and then you'll get into no scrapes。〃 Education at best was futile； education of the poor was positively dangerous。 The factory children？ 〃Oh； if you'd only have the goodness to leave them alone！〃 Free Trade was a delusion； the ballot was nonsense； and there was no such thing as a democracy。
Nevertheless； he was not a reactionary； he was simply an opportunist。 The whole duty of government； he said； was 〃to prevent crime and to preserve contracts。〃 All one could really hope to do was to carry on。 He himself carried on in a remarkable mannerwith perpetual compromises； with fluctuations and contradictions； with every kind of weakness； and yet with shrewdness； with gentleness； even with conscientiousness； and a light and airy mastery of men and of events。 He conducted the transactions of business with extraordinary nonchalance。 Important persons； ushered up for some grave interview； found him in a towselled bed； littered with books and papers； or vaguely shaving in a dressing…room； but； when they went downstairs again； they would realise that somehow or other they had been pumped。 When he had to receive a deputation； he could hardly ever do so with becoming gravity。 The worthy delegates of the tallow…chandlers； or the Society for the Abolition of Capital Punishment； were distressed and mortified when； in the midst of their speeches； the Prime Minister became absorbed in blowing a feather； or suddenly cracked an unseemly joke。 How could they have guessed that he had spent the night before diligently getting up the details of their case？ He hated patronage and the making of appointmentsa feeling rare in Ministers。 〃As for the Bishops；〃 he burst out； 〃I positively believe they die to vex me。〃 But when at last the appointment was made； it was made with keen discrimination。 His colleagues observed another symptomwas it of his irresponsibility or his wisdom？ He went to sleep in the Cabinet。
Probably； if he had been born a little earlier； he would have been a simpler and a happier man。 As it was； he was a child of the eighteenth century whose lot was cast in a new； difficult； unsympathetic age。 He was an autumn rose。 With all his gracious amenity； his humour； his happy…go…lucky ways； a deep disquietude possessed him。 A sentimental cynic； a sceptical believer； he was restless and melancholy at heart。 Above all； he could never harden himself； those sensitive petals shivered in every wind。 Whatever else he might be； one thing was certain： Lord Melbourne was always human； supremely humantoo human； perhaps。
And now； with old age upon him； his life took a sudden； new； extraordinary turn。 He became； in the twinkling of an eye； the intimate adviser and the daily companion of a young girl who had stepped all at once from a nursery to a throne。 His relations with women had been； like everything else about him； ambiguous。 Nobody had ever been able quite to gauge the shifting； emotional complexities of his married life； Lady Caroline vanished； but his peculiar susceptibilities remained。 Female society of some kind or other was necessary to him； and he did not stint himself； a great part of every day was invariably spent in it。 The feminine element in him made it easy； made it natural and inevitable for him to be the friend of a great many women； but the masculine element in him was strong as well。 In such circumstances it is also easy； it is even natural； perhaps it is even inevitable； to be something more than a friend。 There were rumours and combustions。 Lord Melbourne was twice a co…respondent in a divorce action； but on each occasion he won his suit。 The lovely Lady Brandon； the unhappy and brilliant Mrs。 Norton。。。 the law exonerated them both。 Beyond that hung an impenetrable veil。 But at any rate it was clear that； with such a record； the Prime Minister's position in Buckingham Palace must be a highly delicate one。 However； he was used to delicacies； and he met the situation with consummate success。 His behaviour was from the first moment impeccable。 His manner towards the young Queen mingled； with perfect facility； the watchfulness and the respect of a statesman and a courtier with the tender solicitude of a parent。 He was at once reverential and affectionate； at once the servant and the guide。 At the same time the habits of his life underwent a surprising change。 His comfortable； unpunctual days became subject to the unaltering routine of a palace； no longer did he sprawl on sofas； not a single 〃damn〃 escaped his lips。 The man of the world who had been the friend of Byron and the regent； the talker whose paradoxes had held Holland House enthralled； the cynic whose ribaldries had enlivened so many deep potations； the lover whose soft words had captivated such beauty and such passion and such wit； might now be seen； evening after evening； talking with infinite politeness to a schoolgirl； bolt upright； amid the silence and the rigidity of Court etiquette。
IV
On her side； Victoria was instantaneously fascinated by Lord Melbourne。 The good report of Stockmar had no doubt prepared the way； Lehzen was wisely propitiated； and the first highly favourable impression was never afterwards belied。 She found him perfect； and perfect in her sight he remained。 Her absolute and unconcealed adoration was very natural； what innocent young creature could have resisted； in any circumstances； the charm and the devotion of such a man？ But； in her situation； there was a special influence which gave a peculiar glow to all she felt。 After years of emptiness and dullness and suppression； she had come suddenly； in the heyday of youth； into freedom and power。 She was mistress of herself； of great domains and palaces； she was Queen of England。 Responsibilities and difficulties she might have； no doubt； and in heavy measure； but one feeling dominated and absorbed all othersthe feeling of joy。 Everything pleased her。 She was in high spirits from morning till night。 Mr。 Creevey； grown old now； and very near his end； catching a glimpse of her at Brighton； was much amused； in his sharp fashion； by the ingenuous gaiety of 〃little Vic。〃 〃A more homely little being you never beheld； when she is at her ease； and she is evidently dying to be always more so。 She laughs in real earnest； opening her mouth as wide as it can go； showing not very pretty gums。。。 She eats quite as heartily as she laughs； I think I may say she gobbles。。。 She blushes and laughs every instant in so natural a way as to disarm anybody。〃 But it was not merely when she was laughing or gobbling that she enjoyed herself； the performance of her official duties gave her intense satisfaction。 〃I really have immensely to do；〃 she wrote in her Journal a few days after her accession； 〃I receive so many communications from my Ministers； but I like it very much。〃 And again； a week later； 〃I repeat what I said before that I have so many communications from the Ministers； and from me to them； and I get so many papers to sign every day； that I have always a very great deal to do。 I delight in this work。〃 Through the girl's immaturity the vigorous predestined tastes of the woman were pushing themselves into existence with eager velocity； with delicious force。
One detail of her happy situation deserves particular mention。 Apart from the splendour of her social position and the momentousness of her political one； she was a person of great wealth。 As soon as Parliament met； an annuity of L385；000 was settled upon her。 When the expenses of her household had been discharged； she was left with L68；000 a year of her own。 She enjoyed besides the revenues of the Duchy of Lancaster； which amounted annually to over L27；000。 The first use to which she put her money was characteristic： she paid off her father's debts。 In money matters； no less than in other matters； she was determined to be correct。 She had the instincts of a man of business； and she never could have borne to be in a position that was financially unsound。
With youth and happiness gilding every hour； the days passed merrily enough。 And each day hinged upon Lord Melbourne。 Her diary shows us； with undiminished clarity； the life of the young sovereign during the early months of her reigna life satisfactorily regular； full of delightful business； a life of simple pleasures； most
