queen victoria-第23节
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IV
The early discords had passed away completelyresolved into the absolute harmony of married life。 Victoria； overcome by a new； an unimagined revelation； had surrendered her whole soul to her husband。 The beauty and the charm which so suddenly had made her his at first were； she now saw； no more than but the outward manifestation of the true Albert。 There was an inward beauty； an inward glory which； blind that she was； she had then but dimly apprehended； but of which now she was aware in every fibre of her beinghe was goodhe was great！ How could she ever have dreamt of setting up her will against his wisdom； her ignorance against his knowledge； her fancies against his perfect taste？ Had she really once loved London and late hours and dissipation？ She who now was only happy in the country； she who jumped out of bed every morningoh； so early！with Albert； to take a walk； before breakfast； with Albert alone！ How wonderful it was to be taught by him！ To be told by him which trees were which； and to learn all about the bees！ And then to sit doing cross…stitch while he read aloud to her Hallam's Constitutional History of England！ Or to listen to him playing on his new organ 〃The organ is the first of instruments；〃 he said）； or to sing to him a song by Mendelssohn； with a great deal of care over the time and the breathing； and only a very occasional false note！ And； after dinner； tooh； how good of him！ He had given up his double chess！ And so there could be round games at the round table； or everyone could spend the evening in the most amusing way imaginablespinning counters and rings。' When the babies came it was still more wonderful。 Pussy was such a clever little girl （〃I am not Pussy！ I am the Princess Royal！〃 she had angrily exclaimed on one occasion）； and Bertiewell； she could only pray MOST fervently that the little Prince of Wales would grow up to 〃resemble his angelic dearest Father in EVERY； EVERY respect； both in body and mind。〃 Her dear Mamma； too； had been drawn once more into the family circle； for Albert had brought about a reconciliation； and the departure of Lehzen had helped to obliterate the past。 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 unfort
