Page:Life of Her Majesty Queen Victoria (IA lifeofhermajesty01fawc).pdf/78

 always towards me, with the greatest kindness and affection. We also think it better, and Albert quite approves of it, that we should be married very soon after Parliament meets about the beginning of February."

King Leopold's answer applied to himself the words of old Simeon, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace." The dearest wish of his heart was as good as accomplished.

The Prince avowed his engagement to his grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Gotha, in these words: "The Queen sent for me alone to her room a few days ago, and declared to me in a genuine outburst of love and affection that I had gained her whole heart, and would make her intensely happy if I would make the sacrifice of sharing her life with her, for she said she looked on it as a sacrifice; the only thing that troubled her was that she did not think she was worthy of me. The joyous openness of manner in which she told me this quite enchanted me, and I was quite carried away by it. She is really most good and amiable, and I am quite sure Heaven has not given me into evil hands, and that we shall be happy together. Since that moment Victoria does whatever she fancies I should wish or like, and we talk together a great deal about our future life, which she promises me to make as happy as possible." In these letters one feels that her tone is more generous than his. The Queen's letters, then in the first blush of love, and always wherever her husband is concerned, breathe the spirit of Elsa's self-dedication, "Dir geb' ich Alles, was ich brie!"

She had then, and preserved to the end of their happy life together, unbounded belief in him and pride in him. To her he was the most beautiful, the wisest and best of human beings. He was always to