was prevailed upon to put off her departure till the morrow。
Her troubles； however； were not over when she had shaken the dust of Windsor from her feet。 In her own household she was pursued by bitterness and vexation of spirit。 The apartments at Kensington were seething with subdued disaffection； with jealousies and animosities virulently intensified by long years of propinquity and spite。
There was a deadly feud between Sir John Conroy and Baroness Lehzen。 But that was not all。 The Duchess had grown too fond of her Major…Domo。 There were familiarities； and one day the Princess Victoria discovered the fact。 She confided what she had seen to the Baroness； and to the Baroness's beloved ally； Madame de Spath。 Unfortunately； Madame de Spath could not hold her tongue； and was actually foolish enough to reprove the Duchess； whereupon she was instantly dismissed。 It was not so easy to get rid of the Baroness。 That lady； prudent and reserved； maintained an irreproachable demeanour。 Her position was strongly entrenched； she had managed to secure the support of the King； and Sir John found that he could do nothing against her。 But henceforward the household was divided into two camps。＇*＇ The Duchess supported Sir John with all the abundance of her authority； but the Baroness； too； had an adherent who could not be neglected。 The Princess Victoria said nothing； but she had been much attached to Madame de Spath； and she adored her Lehzen。 The Duchess knew only too well that in this horrid embroilment her daughter was against her。 Chagrin； annoyance； moral reprobation； tossed her to and fro。 She did her best to console herself with Sir John's affectionate loquacity； or with the sharp remarks of Lady Flora Hastings； one of her maids of honour； who had no love for the Baroness。 The subject lent itself to satire； for the pastor's daughter； with all her airs of stiff superiority； had habits which betrayed her origin。 Her passion for caraway seeds； for instance； was uncontrollable。 Little bags of them came over to her from Hanover； and she sprinkled them on her bread and butter； her cabbage； and even her roast beef。 Lady Flora could not resist a caustic observation； it was repeated to the Baroness； who pursed her lips in fury； and so the mischief grew。
＇*＇ Greville； IV； 21； and August 15； 1839 （unpublished）。 〃The cause of the Queen's alienation from the Duchess and hatred of Conroy； the Duke ＇of Wellington＇ said； was unquestionably owing to her having witnessed some familiarities between them。 What she had seen she repeated to Baroness Spaeth； and Spaeth not only did not hold her tongue； but （he thinks） remonstrated with the Duchess herself on the subject。 The consequence was that they got rid of Spaeth； and they would have got rid of Lehzen； too； if they had been able； but Lehzen； who knew very well what was going on； was prudent enough not to commit herself； and who was； besides； powerfully protected by George IV and William IV； so that they did not dare to attempt to expel her。〃
V
The King had prayed that he might live till his niece was of age； and a few days before her eighteenth birthdaythe date of her legal majoritya sudden attack of illness very nearly carried him off。 He recovered； however； and the Princess was able to go through her birthday festivitiesa state ball and a drawing…roomwith unperturbed enjoyment。 〃Count Zichy；〃 she noted in her diary； 〃is very good…looking in uniform； but not in plain clothes。 Count Waldstein looks remarkably well in his pretty Hungarian uniform。〃 With the latter young gentleman she wished to dance； but there was an insurmountable difficulty。 〃He could not dance quadrilles； and； as in my station I unfortunately cannot valse and gallop； I could not dance with him。〃 Her birthday present from the King was of a pleasing nature； but it led to a painful domestic scene。 In spite of the anger of her Belgian uncle； she had remained upon good terms with her English one。 He had always been very kind to her； and the fact that he had quarrelled with her mother did not appear to be a reason for disliking him。 He was； she said； 〃odd； very odd and singular；〃 but 〃his intentions were often ill interpreted。〃 He now wrote her a letter； offering her an allowance of L10；000 a year； which he proposed should be at her own disposal； and independent of her mother。 Lord Conyngham； the Lord Chamberlain； was instructed to deliver the letter into the Princess's own hands。 When he arrived at Kensington； he was ushered into the presence of the Duchess and the Princess； and； when he produced the letter； the Duchess put out her hand to take it。 Lord Conyngham begged her Royal Highness's pardon； and repeated the King's commands。 Thereupon the Duchess drew back； and the Princess took the letter。 She immediately wrote to her uncle； accepting his kind proposal。 The Duchess was much displeased； L4000 a year； she said； would be quite enough for Victoria； as for the remaining L6000； it would be only proper that she should have that herself。
King William had thrown off his illness； and returned to his normal life。 Once more the royal circle at Windsortheir Majesties； the elder Princesses； and some unfortunate Ambassadress or Minister's wifemight be seen ranged for hours round a mahogany table； while the Queen netted a purse； and the King slept； occasionally waking from his slumbers to observe 〃Exactly so； ma'am； exactly so！〃 But this recovery was of short duration。 The old man suddenly collapsed； with no specific symptoms besides an extreme weakness； he yet showed no power of rallying； and it was clear to everyone that his death was now close at hand。
All eyes； all thoughts； turned towards the Princess Victoria； but she still remained； shut away in the seclusion of Kensington； a small； unknown figure； lost in the large shadow of her mother's domination。 The preceding year had in fact been an important one in her development。 The soft tendrils of her mind had for the first time begun to stretch out towards unchildish things。 In this King Leopold encouraged her。 After his return to Brussels； he had resumed his correspondance in a more serious strain； he discussed the details of foreign politics； he laid down the duties of kingship； he pointed out the iniquitous foolishness of the newspaper press。 On the latter subject； indeed； he wrote with some asperity。 〃If all the editors；〃 he said； 〃of the papers in the countries where the liberty of the press exists were to be assembled； we should have a crew to which you would NOT confide a dog that you would value； still less your honour and reputation。〃 On the functions of a monarch； his views were unexceptionable。 〃The business of the highest in a State；〃 he wrote； 〃is certainly； in my opinion； to act with great impartiality and a spirit of justice for the good of all。〃 At the same time the Princess's tastes were opening out。 Though she was still passionately devoted to riding and dancing； she now began to have a genuine love of music as well； and to drink in the roulades and arias of the Italian opera with high enthusiasm。 She even enjoyed reading poetryat any rate； the poetry of Sir Walter Scott。
When King Leopold learnt that King William's death was approaching； he wrote several long letters of excellent advice to his niece。 〃In every letter I shall write to you；〃 he said； 〃I mean to repeat to you； as a FUNDAMENTAL RULE； TO BE FIRM； AND COURAGEOUS； AND HONEST； AS YOU HAVE BEEN TILL NOW。〃 For the rest； in the crisis that was approaching； she was not to be alarmed； but to trust in her 〃good natural sense and the TRUTH〃 of her character； she was to do nothing in a hurry； to hurt no one's amour…propre； and to continue her confidence in the Whig administration！ Not content with letters； however； King Leopold determined that the Princess should not lack personal guidance； and sent over to her aid the trusted friend whom； twenty years before； he had taken to his heart by the death…bed at Claremont。 Thus； once again； as if in accordance with some preordained destiny； the figure of Stockmar is discernibleinevitably present at a momentous hour。
On June 18； the King was visibly sinking。 The Archbishop of Canterbury was by his side； with all the comforts of the church。 Nor did the holy words fall upon a rebellious spirit； for many years his Majesty had been a devout believer。 〃When I was a young man；〃 he once explained at a public banquet； 〃as well as I can remember； I believed in nothing but pleasure and follynothing at all。 But when I went to sea； got into a gale； and saw the wonders of the mighty deep； then I believed； and I have been a sincere Christian ever since。〃 It was the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo； and the dying man remembered it。 He should be glad to live； he said； over that day； he would never see another sunset。 〃I hope your Majesty may live to see many；〃 said Dr。 Chambers。 〃Oh！ that's quite another thing； that's quite another thing；〃 was the answer。 One other sunset he did live to see； and he died in the early hours of the following morning。 It was on June 20； 1837。
When all was over； the Archbishop and the Lord Chamberlain ordered a carriage； and drove post…haste from Windsor to Kensington。 They arrived at the Palace at five o'clock； and it was only with considerable difficulty that they gained admittance。 At six the Duchess woke up her daughter； and told her that the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Conyngham were there； and wished to see her。 She got out of bed； put on her dressing…gown； and went； alone； into the room where the messengers were standing。 Lord Conyngham fell on his knees； and officially announced the death of the King； the Archbishop added some personal details。 Looking at the bending； murmuring dignitaries before her； she knew that she was Queen of England。 〃Since it has pleased Providence；〃 she wrote that day in her journal； 〃to place me in this station； I shall do my utmost to fulfil my duty towards my country； I am very young； and perhaps in many； though not in all things； inexperienced； but I am sure； that very few have more real good will and more real desire to do what is fit and right than I have。〃 But there was scant time for resolutions and reflections。 At once； affairs were thick upon her。 Stockmar came to breakfast； and gave some good advice。 S