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e 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 unfortunate successor of the Princess Charlotte； when； in the early days of their marriage； she had attempted a feeble joke。 Did she not understand that the consort of a constitutional sovereign must not be frivolous？ She understood； at last； only too well； and when the startled walls of the state apartments re…echoed to the chattering and the laughter of Victoria； the poor lady found that she had almost forgotten how to smile。
Another year； Germany was visited； and Albert displayed the beauties of his home。 When Victoria crossed the frontier； she was much excitedand she was astonished as well。 〃To hear the people speak German；〃 she noted in her diary； 〃and to see the German soldiers； etc。； seemed to me so singular。〃 Having recovered from this slight shock； she found the country charming。 She was feted everywhere； crowds of the surrounding royalties swooped down to welcome her； and the prettiest groups of peasant children； dressed in their best clothes； presented her with bunches of flowers。 The principality of Coburg； with its romantic scenery and its well…behaved inhabitants； particularly delighted her； and when she woke up one morning to find herself in 〃dear Rosenau； my Albert's birthplace；〃 it was 〃like a beautiful dream。〃 On her return home； she expatiated； in a letter to King Leopold； upon the pleasures of the trip； dwelling especially upon the intensity of her affection for Albert's native land。 〃I have a feeling；〃 she said； 〃for our dear little Germany； which I cannot describe。 I felt it at Rosenau so much。 It is a something which touches me； and which goes to my heart； and makes me inclined to cry。 I never felt at any other place that sort of pensive pleasure and peace which I felt there。 I fear I almost like it too much。〃
V
The husband was not so happy as the wife。 In spite of the great improvement in his situation； in spite of a growing family and the adoration of Victoria； Albert was still a stranger in a strange land； and the serenity of spiritual satisfaction was denied him。 It was something； no doubt； to have dominated his immediate environment； but it was not enough； and； besides； in the very completeness of his success； there was a bitterness。 Victoria idolised him； but it was understanding that he craved for； not idolatry； and how much did Victoria； filled to the brim though she was with him； understand him？ How much does the bucket understand the well？ He was lonely。 He went to his organ and improvised with learned modulations until the sounds； swelling and subsiding through elaborate cadences； brought some solace to his heart。 Then； with the elasticity of youth； he hurried off to play with the babies； or to design a new pigsty； or to read aloud the 〃Church History of Scotland〃 to Victoria； or to pirouette before her on one toe； like a ballet…dancer； with a fixed smile； to show her how she ought to behave when she appeared in public places。 Thus did he amuse himself； but there was one distraction in which he did not indulge。 He never flirtedno； not with the prettiest ladies of the Court。 When； during their engagement； the Queen had remarked with pride to Lord Melbourne that the Prince paid