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s that it should be understood that she would not be guilty of any breach of promise； for she never gave any。〃 To Lord Melbourne she was more explicit。 She told him that she 〃had no great wish to see Albert； as the whole subject was an odious one；〃 she hated to have to decide about it； and she repeated once again that seeing Albert would be 〃a disagreeable thing。〃 But there was no escaping the horrid business； the visit must be made； and she must see him。 The summer slipped by and was over； it was the autumn already； on the evening of October 10 Albert； accompanied by his brother Ernest； arrived at Windsor。
Albert arrived； and the whole structure of her existence crumbled into nothingness like a house of cards。 He was beautifulshe gaspedshe knew no more。 Then； in a flash； a thousand mysteries were revealed to her； the past； the present； rushed upon her with a new significance； the delusions of years were abolished； and an extraordinary； an irresistible certitude leapt into being in the light of those blue eyes； the smile of that lovely mouth。 The succeeding hours passed in a rapture。 She was able to observe a few more detailsthe 〃exquisite nose；〃 the 〃delicate moustachios and slight but very slight whiskers；〃 the 〃beautiful figure； broad in the shoulders and a fine waist。〃 She rode with him； danced with him； talked with him； and it was all perfection。 She had no shadow of a doubt。 He had come on a Thursday evening； and on the following Sunday morning she told Lord Melbourne that she had 〃a good deal changed her opinion as to marrying。〃 Next morning； she told him that she had made up her mind to marry Albert。 The morning after that； she sent for her cousin。 She received him alone； and 〃after a few minutes I said to him that I thought he must be aware why I wished them to come hereand that it would make me too happy if be would consent to what I wished （to marry me。）〃 Then 〃we embraced each other； and he was so kind； so affectionate。〃 She said that she was quite unworthy of him； while he murmured that he would be very happy 〃Das Leben mit dir zu zubringen。〃 They parted； and she felt 〃the happiest of human beings；〃 when Lord M。 came in。 At first she beat about the bush； and talked of the weather； and indifferent subjects。 Somehow or other she felt a little nervous with her old friend。 At last； summoning up her courage； she said； 〃I have got well through this with Albert。〃 〃Oh！ you have；〃 said Lord M。
CHAPTER IV。 MARRIAGE
I
It was decidedly a family match。 Prince Francis Charles Augustus Albert Emmanuel of Saxe…CoburgGothafor such was his full titlehad been born just three months after his cousin Victoria； and the same midwife had assisted at the two births。 The children's grandmother； the Dowager Duchess of Coburg； had from the first looked forward to their marriage； as they grew up； the Duke； the Duchess of Kent； and King Leopold came equally to desire it。 The Prince； ever since the time when； as a child of three； his nurse had told him that some day 〃the little English May flower〃 would be his wife； had never thought of marrying anyone else。 When eventually Baron Stockmar himself signified his assent； the affair seemed as good as settled。
The Duke had one other childPrince Ernest； Albert's senior by one year； and heir to the principality。 The Duchess was a sprightly and beautiful woman； with fair hair and blue eyes； Albert was very like her and was her declared favourite。 But in his fifth year he was parted from her for ever。 The ducal court was not noted for the strictness of its morals； the Duke was a man of gallantry； and it was rumoured that the Duchess followed her husband's example。 There were scandals： one of the Court Chamberlains； a charming and cultivated man of Jewish extraction； was talked of； at last there was a separation； followed by a divorce。 The Duchess retired to Paris； and died unhappily in 1831。 Her memory was always very dear to Albert。
He grew up a pretty； clever； and high…spirited boy。 Usually well…behaved； he was； however； sometimes violent。 He had a will of his own； and asserted it； his elder brother was less passionate； less purposeful； and； in their wrangles； it was Albert who came out top。 The two boys； living for the most part in one or other of the Duke's country houses； among pretty hills and woods and streams； had been at a very early ageAlbert was less than fourseparated from their nurses and put under a tutor； in whose charge they remained until they went to the University。 They were brought up in a simple and unostentatious manner； for the Duke was poor and the duchy very small and very insignificant。 Before long it became evident that Albert was a model lad。 Intelligent and painstaking； he had been touched by the moral earnestness of his generation； at the age of eleven he surprised his father by telling him that he hoped to make himself 〃a good and useful man。〃 And yet he was not over…serious； though； perhaps； he had little humour； he was full of funof practical jokes and mimicry。 He was no milksop； he rode； and shot； and fenced； above all did he delight in being out of doors； and never was he happier than in his long rambles with his brother through the wild country round his beloved Rosenaustalking the deer； admiring the scenery； and returning laden with specimens for his natural history collection。 He was； besides； passionately fond of music。 In one particular it was observed that he did not take after his father： owing either to his peculiar upbringing or to a more fundamental idiosyncrasy he had a marked distaste for the opposite sex。 At the age of five； at a children's dance； he screamed with disgust and anger when a little girl was led up to him for a partner； and though； later on； he grew more successful in disguising such feelings； the feelings remained。
The brothers were very popular in Coburg； and； when the time came for them to be confirmed； the preliminary examination which； according to ancient custom； was held in public in the 〃Giants' Hall〃 of the Castle； was attended by an enthusiastic crowd of functionaries； clergy； delegates from the villages of the duchy； and miscellaneous onlookers。 There were also present； besides the Duke and the Dowager Duchess； their Serene Highnesses the Princes Alexander and Ernest of Wurtemberg； Prince Leiningen； Princess Hohenlohe…Langenburg； and Princess Hohenlohe…Schillingsfurst。 Dr。 Jacobi； the Court chaplain； presided at an altar； simply but appropriately decorated； which had been placed at the end of the hall； and the proceedings began by the choir singing the first verse of the hymn； 〃Come； Holy Ghost。〃 After some introductory remarks； Dr。 Jacobi began the examination。 〃The dignified and decorous bearing of the Princes；〃 we are told in a contemporary account； 〃their strict attention to the questions； the frankness； decision； and correctness of their answers； produced a deep impression on the numerous assembly。 Nothing was more striking in their answers than the evidence they gave of deep feeling and of inward strength of conviction。 The questions put by the examiner were not such as to be met by a simple 〃yes〃 or 〃no。〃 They were carefully considered in order to give the audience a clear insight into the views and feeli