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reached an extraordinary height。 More than once she was publicly insulted。 〃Mrs。 Melbourne；〃 was shouted at her when she appeared at her balcony； and； at Ascot； she was hissed by the Duchess of Montrose and Lady Sarah Ingestre as she passed。 Lady Flora died。 The whole scandal burst out again with redoubled vehemence； while； in the Palace； the two parties were henceforth divided by an impassable； a Stygian； gulf。
Nevertheless； Lord M。 was back； and every trouble faded under the enchantment of his presence and his conversation。 He； on his side； had gone through much； and his distresses were intensified by a consciousness of his own shortcomings。 He realised clearly enough that； if he had intervened at the right moment； the Hastings scandal might have been averted； and； in the bedchamber crisis； he knew that he had allowed his judgment to be overruled and his conduct to be swayed by private feelings and the impetuosity of Victoria。 But he was not one to suffer too acutely from the pangs of conscience。 In spite of the dullness and the formality of the Court； his relationship with the Queen had come to be the dominating interest in his life； to have been deprived of it would have been heartrending； that dread eventuality had beensomehowavoided； he was installed once more； in a kind of triumph； let him enjoy the fleeting hours to the full！ And so； cherished by the favour of a sovereign and warmed by the adoration of a girl； the autumn rose； in those autumn months of 1839； came to a wondrous blooming。 The petals expanded； beautifully； for the last time。 For the last time in this unlookedfor； this incongruous； this almost incredible intercourse； the old epicure tasted the exquisiteness of romance。 To watch； to teach； to restrain； to encourage the royal young creature beside himthat was much； to feel with such a constant intimacy the impact of her quick affection； her radiant vitalitythat was more； most of all； perhaps； was it good to linger vaguely in humorous contemplation； in idle apostrophe； to talk disconnectedly； to make a little joke about an apple or a furbelow； to dream。 The springs of his sensibility； hidden deep within him； were overflowing。 Often； as he bent over her hand and kissed it； he found himself in tears。
Upon Victoria； with all her impermeability； it was inevitable that such a companionship should have produced； eventually； an effect。 She was no longer the simple schoolgirl of two years since。 The change was visible even in her public demeanour。 Her expression； once 〃ingenuous and serene；〃 now appeared to a shrewd observer to be 〃bold and discontented。〃 She had learnt something of the pleasures of power and the pains of it； but that was not all。 Lord Melbourne with his gentle instruction had sought to lead her into the paths of wisdom and moderation； but the whole unconscious movement of his character had swayed her in a very different direction。 The hard clear pebble； subjected for so long and so constantly to that encircling and insidious fluidity； had suffered a curious corrosion； it seemed to be actually growing a little soft and a little clouded。 Humanity and fallibility are infectious things； was it possible that Lehzen's prim pupil had caught them？ That she was beginning to listen to siren voices？ That the secret impulses of self…expression； of self…indulgence even； were mastering her life？ For a moment the child of a new age looked back； and wavered towards the eighteenth century。 It was the most critical moment of her career。 Had those influences lasted； the development of her character； the history of her life； would have been completely changed。
And why should they not last？ She； for one； was very anxious that they should。 Let them last for ever！ She was surrounded by Whigs； she was free to do whatever she wanted； she had Lord M。； she could not believe that she could ever be happier。 Any change would be for the worse； and the worst change of all。。。 no； she would not hear of it； it would be quite intolerable； it would upset everything； if she were to marry。 And yet everyone seemed to want her tothe general public； the Ministers； her Saxe…Coburg relationsit was always the same story。 Of course； she knew very well that there were excellent reasons for it。 For one thing； if she remained childless； and were to die； her uncle Cumberland； who was now the King of Hanover； would succeed to the Throne of England。 That； no doubt； would be a most unpleasant event； and she entirely sympathised with everybody who wished to avoid it。 But there was no hurry； naturally； she would marry in the endbut not just yetnot for three or four years。 What was tiresome was that her uncle Leopold had apparently determined； not only that she ought to marry； but that her cousin Albert ought to be her husband。 That was very like her uncle Leopold； who wanted to have a finger in every pie； and it was true that long ago； in far…off days； before her accession even； she had written to him in a way which might well have encouraged him in such a notion。 She had told him then that Albert possessed 〃every quality that could be desired to render her perfectly happy；〃 and had begged her 〃dearest uncle to take care of the health of one； now so dear to me； and to take him under your special protection；〃 adding； 〃I hope and trust all will go on prosperously and well on this subject of so much importance to me。〃 But that had been years ago； when she was a mere child； perhaps； indeed； to judge from the language； the letter had been dictated by Lehzen； at any rate； her feelings； and all the circumstances； had now entirely changed。 Albert hardly interested her at all。
In later life the Queen declared that she had never for a moment dreamt of marrying anyone but her cousin； her letters and diaries tell a very different story。 On August 26； 1837； she wrote in her journal： 〃To…day is my dearest cousin Albert's 18th birthday； and I pray Heaven to pour its choicest blessings on his beloved head！〃 In the subsequent years； however； the date passes unnoticed。 It had been arranged that Stockmar should accompany the Prince to Italy； and the faithful Baron left her side for that purpose。 He wrote to her more than once with sympathetic descriptions of his young companion； but her mind was by this time made up。 She liked and admired Albert very much； but she did not want to marry him。 〃At present；〃 she told Lord Melbourne in April； 1839； 〃my feeling is quite against ever marrying。〃 When her cousin's Italian tour came to an end； she began to grow nervous； she knew that； according to a long…standing engagement； his next journey would be to England。 He would probably arrive in the autumn； and by July her uneasiness was intense。 She determined to write to her uncle； in order to make her position clear。 It must be understood she said； that 〃there is no no engagement between us。〃 If she should like Albert； she could 〃make no final promise this year； for； at the very earliest； any such event could not take place till two or three years hence。〃 She had； she said； 〃a great repugnance〃 to change her present position； and； if she should not like him； she was 〃very anxious that it should be understood that she would not be guilty of any breach of promise； for she never