Page:Life of Her Majesty Queen Victoria (IA lifeofhermajesty01fawc).pdf/153

 that he could be answerable for nothing unless Her Majesty would be graciously pleased to change her seat. The chairs of the ladies were blockading the grog cupboard! As soon as the Queen was informed of this, she consented to move her chair, on condition that she was to share the sailors' grog. On tasting it she said, "I am afraid I can only make the same remark I did once before, that I think it would be very good if it were stronger!" The hint was taken, and the sailors were of course delighted by the Queen's good-nature.

One more little home touch must conclude this chapter. Reference has already been made to the Queen's reluctance to part from the Prince even for a few days. When it was necessary for him to leave her, he kept her constantly supplied with diary-letters, showing that his thoughts and heart were ever with her. On one of these absences, occasioned by the death of his father, the Duke of Coburg, in 1844, Prince Albert was away a fortnight. His own entry in his journal thus records his return: "Crossed on the 11th. I arrived at six o'clock in the evening at Windsor. Great joy."