Page:Wives of the prime ministers, 1844-1906.djvu/30

WIVES OF THE PRIME MINISTERS supper everybody retired as usual to their different apartments, and that Louisa Poyntz, who had shared her sister's room, gave up her place on this occasion.

Caroline thus had no systematic education, but she possessed natural gifts of a high order. She became a good linguist, knowing well French, Italian, Greek, and Latin. She loved music and painting, devoting many hours all through her life to water-colours, and had a great talent for caricature. She was original in her conversation, in her dress, indeed in everything. At one period of her childhood her grandmother became alarmed at her originality, which bordered on eccentricity, and consulted a doctor as to the state of her mind. He decreed that her brain ought not to be overtaxed with lessons, and that she should not be too strictly disciplined. Consequently she really ran wild. Until she reached her teens she could neither write nor spell, but nevertheless she composed verses. She declared later, speaking of her childish days, "I preferred washing a dog, or polishing a piece of Derbyshire spar, or breaking in a horse"—she was a fearless rider and could ride bareback—"to any accomplishment in the world." 4