Page:Wives of the prime ministers, 1844-1906.djvu/220

WIVES OF THE PRIME MINISTERS On 4th April her son Stephen was born, "a plain baby, small eyes," but a few months later she notes, "baby greatly improved." In June she was present at a party at Buckingham Palace given for the Emperor of Russia, "a grand-looking personage, his figure so striking, tall, and commanding, his manner remarkable, so very civil and courteous, friendly without losing his dignity. The form and manner struck me more than the face itself. But he has an expression that seems to look straight through one, something peculiarly awful in the eyes. The profile, however, is good, and combined with the figure there is something grand and noble. It was interesting to watch him and the Duke of Wellington talking together. When the Queen and the Emperor had finished with refreshments, the manner in which she took his arm, and his in giving it to her, was striking and graceful beyond description; the great inequality of their heights would never have been suspected, such was the grace and ease with which they walked off together."

Mrs. Gladstone thoroughly enjoyed the continual meetings with interesting persons; she liked listening to the conversation of such men 184