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ing； the Baroness was persistent； and he let things slide。 But doubtless his position was not an easy one； passions ran high in the palace； and Victoria was not only very young； she was very headstrong； too。 Did he possess the magic bridle which would curb that fiery steed？ He could not be certain。 And then； suddenly； another violent crisis revealed more unmistakably than ever the nature of the mind with which he had to deal。
VII
The Queen had for long been haunted by a terror that the day might come when she would be obliged to part with her Minister。 Ever since the passage of the Reform Bill； the power of the Whig Government had steadily declined。 The General Election of 1837 had left them with a very small majority in the House of Commons； since then； they had been in constant difflcultiesabroad； at home； in Ireland； the Radical group had grown hostile； it became highly doubtful how much longer they could survive。 The Queen watched the development of events in great anxiety。 She was a Whig by birth； by upbringing； by every association； public and private； and； even if those ties had never existed； the mere fact that Lord M。 was the head of the Whigs would have amply sufficed to determine her politics。 The fall of the Whigs would mean a sad upset for Lord M。 But it would have a still more terrible consequence： Lord M。 would have to leave her； and the daily； the hourly； presence of Lord M。 had become an integral part of her life。 Six months after her accession she had noted in her diary 〃I shall be very sorry to lose him even for one night；〃 and this feeling of personal dependence on her Minister steadily increased。 In these circumstances it was natural that she should have become a Whig partisan。 Of the wider significance of political questions she knew nothing； all she saw was that her friends were in office and about her； and that it would be dreadful if they ceased to be so。 〃I cannot say；〃 she wrote when a critical division was impending； 〃（though I feel confident of our success） how low； how sad I feel； when I think of the possibility of this excellent and truly kind man not remaining my Minister！ Yet I trust ferventIy that He who has so wonderfully protected me through such manifold difficulties will not now desert me！ I should have liked to have expressed to Lord M。 my anxiety； but the tears were nearer than words throughout the time I saw him； and I felt I should have choked； had I attempted to say anything。〃 Lord Melbourne realised clearly enough how undesirable was such a state of mind in a constitutional sovereign who might be called upon at any moment to receive as her Ministers the leaders of the opposite party； he did what he could to cool her ardour； but in vain。
With considerable lack of foresight； too； he had himself helped to bring about this unfortunate condition of affairs。 From the moment of her accession； he had surrounded the Queen with ladies of his own party； the Mistress of the Robes and all the Ladies of the Bedchamber were Whigs。 In the ordinary course； the Queen never saw a Tory： eventually she took pains never to see one in any circumstances。 She disliked the whole tribe； and she did not conceal the fact。 She particularly disliked Sir Robert Peel； who would almost certainly be the next Prime Minister。 His manners were detestable； and he wanted to turn out Lord M。 His supporters； without exception； were equally bad； and as for Sir James Graham； she could not bear the sight of him； he was exactly like Sir John Conroy。
The affair of Lady Flora intensified these party rumours still further。 The Hastings were Tories； and Lord Melbourne and the Court were attacked by the Tory press in unmeasured language。 The Queen's sectarian zeal proportionately increased。 But the dreaded hour was now fast approaching。 Early in May the Ministers were visibly tottering； on a vital point of policy they could only secure a majority of five in the House of Commons； they determined to resign。 When Victoria heard the news she burst into tears。 Was it possible； then； that all was over？ Was she； indeed； about to see Lord M。 for the last time？ Lord M。 came； and it is a curious fact that； even in this crowning moment of misery and agitation； the precise girl noted； to the minute； the exact time of the arrival and the departure of her beloved Minister。 The conversation was touching and prolonged； but it could only end in one waythe Queen must send for the Duke of Wellington。 When； next morning； the Duke came； he advised her Majesty to send for Sir Robert Peel。 She was in 〃a state of dreadful grief；〃 but she swallowed down her tears； and braced herself； with royal resolution； for the odious； odious interview。
Peel was by nature reserved； proud； and shy。 His manners were not perfect； and he knew it； he was easily embarrassed； and； at such moments； he grew even more stiff and formal than before； while his feet mechanically performed upon the carpet a dancing…master's measure。 Anxious as he now was to win the Queen's good graces； his very anxiety to do so made the attainment of his object the more difficult。 He entirely failed to make any headway whatever with the haughty hostile girl before him。 She coldly noted that he appeared to be unhappy and 〃put out；〃 and； while he stood in painful fixity； with an occasional uneasy pointing of the toe； her heart sank within her at the sight of that manner； 〃Oh！ how different； how dreadfully different； to the frank； open； natural； and most kind warm manner of Lord Melbourne。〃 Nevertheless； the audience passed without disaster。 Only at one point had there been some slight hint of a disagreement。 Peel had decided that a change would be necessary in the composition of the royal Household： the Queen must no longer be entirely surrounded by the wives and sisters of his opponents； some； at any rate； of the Ladies of the Bedchamber should be friendly to his Government。 When this matter was touched upon； the Queen had intimated that she wished her Household to remain unchanged； to which Sir Robert had replied that the question could be settled later； and shortly afterwards withdrew to arrange the details of his Cabinet。 While he was present； Victoria had remained； as she herself said； 〃very much collected； civil and high； and betrayed no agitation；〃 but as soon as she was alone she completely broke down。 Then she pulled herself together to write to Lord Melbourne an account of all that had happened； and of her own wretchedness。 〃She feels；〃 she said； 〃Lord Melbourne will understand it； amongst enemies to those she most relied on and most esteemed； but what is worst of all is the being deprived of seeing Lord Melbourne as she used to do。〃
Lord Melbourne replied with a very wise letter。 He attempted to calm the Queen and to induce her to accept the new position gracefully； and he had nothing but good words for the Tory leaders。 As for the question of the Ladies of the Household； the Queen； he said； should strongly urge what she desired； as it was a matter which concerned her personally； 〃but；〃 he added； 〃if Sir Robert is unable to concede it； it will not do to refuse and to put off the negotiation upon it。〃 On this point there can be little doubt that Lord Melbourne was right。 The questi