personnel of the female part of her Household. Lord Melbourne's wisdom,

however, was wasted. The Queen would not be soothed, and still less would she



take advice. It was outrageous of the Tories to want to deprive her of her

Ladies, and that night she made up her mind that, whatever Sir Robert might



say, she would refuse to consent to the removal of a single one of them.

Accordingly, when, next morning, Peel appeared again, she was ready for



action. He began by detailing the Cabinet appointments, and then he added

"Now, ma'am, about the Ladies-" when the Queen sharply interrupted him. "I



cannot give up any of my Ladies," she said. "What, ma'am!" said Sir Robert,

"does your Majesty mean to retain them all?" "All," said the Queen. Sir



Robert's face worked strangely; he could not conceal his agitation. "The

Mistress of the Robes and the Ladies of the Bedchamber?" he brought out at



last. "All," replied once more her Majesty. It was in vain that Peel pleaded

and argued; in vain that he spoke, growing every moment more pompous and



uneasy, of the constitution, and Queens Regnant, and the public interest; in

vain that he danced his pathetic minuet. She was adamant; but he, too, through



all his embarrassment, showed no sign of yielding; and when at last he left

her nothing had been decided--the whole formation of the Government was



hanging in the wind. A frenzy of excitement now seized upon Victoria. Sir

Robert, she believed in her fury, had tried to outwit her, to take her friends



from her, to impose his will upon her own; but that was not all: she had

suddenly perceived, while the poor man was moving so uneasily before her, the



one thing that she was desperatelylonging for--a loop-hole of escape. She

seized a pen and dashed off a note to Lord Melbourne.



"Sir Robert has behaved very ill," she wrote, "he insisted on my giving up my

Ladies, to which I replied that I never would consent, and I never saw a man



so frightened... I was calm but very decided, and I think you would have been

pleased to see my composure and great firmness; the Queen of England will not



submit to such trickery. Keep yourself in readiness, for you may soon be

wanted." Hardly had she finished when the Duke of Wellington was announced.



"Well, Ma'am," he said as he entered, "I am very sorry to find there is a

difficulty." "Oh!" she instantly replied, "he began it, not me." She felt that



only one thing now was needed: she must be firm. And firm she was. The

venerable conqueror of Napoleon was outfaced by the relentless equanimity of a



girl in her teens. He could not move the Queen one inch. At last, she even

ventured to rally him. "Is Sir Robert so weak," she asked, "that even the



Ladies must be of his opinion?" On which the Duke made a brief and humble

expostulation, bowed low, and departed.



Had she won? Time would show; and in the meantime she scribbled down another

letter. "Lord Melbourne must not think the Queen rash in her conduct... The



Queen felt this was an attempt to see whether she could be led and managed

like a child."[*] The Tories were not only wicked but ridiculous. Peel,



having, as she understood, expressed a wish to remove only those members of

the Household who were in Parliament, now objected to her Ladies. "I should



like to know," she exclaimed in triumphant scorn, "if they mean to give the

Ladies seats in Parliament?"



[*] The exclamation "They wished to treat me like a girl, but I will show them

that I am Queen of England!" often quoted as the Queen's, is apocryphal. It is



merely part of Greville's summary of the two letters to Melbourne. It may be

noted that the phrase "the Queen of England will not submit to such trickery"



is omitted in "Girlhood," and in general there are numerous verbal

• visible [´vizəbəl] a.可见的；明显的 (初中英语单词)


• horizon [hə´raizən] n.地平线；范围；视野 (初中英语单词)


• consideration [kən,sidə´reiʃən] n.考虑；原因；体谅 (初中英语单词)


• carriage [´kæridʒ] n.马车；客车；货运 (初中英语单词)


• confirm [kən´fə:m] vt.证实；认可；加强 (初中英语单词)


• suspicion [sə´spiʃən] n.怀(猜)疑；嫌疑 (初中英语单词)


• physician [fi´ziʃən] n.(内科)医生 (初中英语单词)


• everyone [´evriwʌn] pron.=everybody 每人 (初中英语单词)


• extraordinary [ik´strɔ:dinəri] a.非常的；额外的 (初中英语单词)


• examination [ig,zæmi´neiʃən] n.检查；考试；检验 (初中英语单词)


• sovereign [´sɔvrin] a.至高无上的 n.君主 (初中英语单词)


• instantly [´instəntli] ad.立即，立刻 (初中英语单词)


• impression [im´preʃən] n.印刷；印象；效果 (初中英语单词)


• doubtless [´dautlis] ad.无疑地；大概，多半 (初中英语单词)


• violent [´vaiələnt] a.强暴的；猛烈的 (初中英语单词)


• haunted [´hɔ:tid] a.常出现鬼的，闹鬼的 (初中英语单词)


• terror [´terə] n.恐怖；惊骇 (初中英语单词)


• minister [´ministə] n.部长；大臣 v.伺候 (初中英语单词)


• steadily [´stedili] ad.坚定地；不断地 (初中英语单词)


• election [i´lekʃən] n.选举；选择 (初中英语单词)


• constant [´kɔnstənt] a.坚定的；坚贞的 (初中英语单词)


• hostile [´hɔstail] a.敌方的，敌意的 (初中英语单词)


• survive [sə´vaiv] vt.幸存；残存 (初中英语单词)


• anxiety [æŋ´zaiəti] n.挂念；渴望；焦虑的事 (初中英语单词)


• politics [´pɔlitiks] n.政治(学)；政治活动 (初中英语单词)


• consequence [´kɔnsikwəns] n.结果；后果；推断 (初中英语单词)


• possibility [,pɔsə´biliti] n.可能(性)；希望；前途 (初中英语单词)


• considerable [kən´sidərəbəl] a.重要的；值得重视 (初中英语单词)


• unfortunate [ʌn´fɔ:tʃunit] a.不幸的，运气差的 (初中英语单词)


• mistress [´mistris] n.女主人；情妇；女能手 (初中英语单词)


• conceal [kən´si:l] vt.藏；隐瞒 (初中英语单词)


• exception [ik´sepʃən] n.例外；反对，异议 (初中英语单词)


• equally [´i:kwəli] ad.相等地；平等地 (初中英语单词)


• departure [di´pɑ:tʃə] n.离开，出发 (初中英语单词)


• beloved [bi´lʌvd] a.为….所爱的 n.爱人 (初中英语单词)


• dreadful [´dredful] a.可怕的；讨厌的 (初中英语单词)


• formal [´fɔ:məl] a.正式的；外表的 (初中英语单词)


• measure [´meʒə] n.量度；范围 vt.测量 (初中英语单词)


• anxious [´æŋkʃəs] a.担忧的；渴望的 (初中英语单词)


• whatever [wɔt´evə] pron.&a.无论什么 (初中英语单词)


• coldly [´kəuldli] ad.冷淡地 (初中英语单词)


• dreadfully [dredfuli] ad.可怕地；糟透地 (初中英语单词)


• nevertheless [,nevəðə´les] conj.&ad.然而；不过 (初中英语单词)


• disaster [di´zɑ:stə] n.灾难，不幸 (初中英语单词)


• shortly [´ʃɔ:tli] ad.立刻，马上；不久 (初中英语单词)


• cabinet [´kæbinit] n.橱，柜；内阁 (初中英语单词)


• account [ə´kaunt] vi.说明 vt.认为 n.帐目 (初中英语单词)


• strongly [´strɔŋli] ad.强烈地；强有力地 (初中英语单词)


• unable [ʌn´eibəl] a.不能的；无能为力的 (初中英语单词)


• complicated [´kɔmplikeitid] a.结构复杂的；难懂的 (初中英语单词)


• female [´fi:meil] a.女(性)的 n.女人 (初中英语单词)


• sharply [´ʃɑ:pli] ad.锋利地；剧烈地 (初中英语单词)


• majesty [´mædʒisti] n.壮丽；崇高；尊严 (初中英语单词)


• retain [ri´tein] vt.保持；保留；留住 (初中英语单词)


• strangely [´streindʒli] ad.奇怪地；陌生地 (初中英语单词)


• constitution [,kɔnsti´tju:ʃən] n.宪法；体格；体质 (初中英语单词)


• excitement [ik´saitmənt] n.兴奋；骚动；煽动 (初中英语单词)


• impose [im´pəuz] v.课税；强加；利用 (初中英语单词)


• meantime [´mi:ntaim] n.&ad.其间；同时 (初中英语单词)


• wicked [´wikid] a.邪恶的；不道德的 (初中英语单词)


• parliament [´pɑ:ləmənt] n.议(国)会 (初中英语单词)


• phrase [freiz] n.短语；词组；措词 (初中英语单词)


• submit [səb´mit] vt.使服从；使忍受 (初中英语单词)


• duchess [´dʌtʃis] n.公爵夫人；女公爵 (高中英语单词)


• scandal [´skændl] n.丑闻；耻辱；流言蜚语 (高中英语单词)


• certificate [sə´tifikət] n.执照；文凭 vt.批准 (高中英语单词)


• innocence [´inəsəns] n.无罪；天真 (高中英语单词)


• violently [´vaiələntli] ad.强暴地；猛烈地 (高中英语单词)


• popularity [,pɔpju´læriti] n.普及；流行；名望 (高中英语单词)


• radiant [´reidiənt] a.发光的 n.光源(体) (高中英语单词)


• awkward [´ɔ:kwəd] a.笨拙的；为难的 (高中英语单词)


• customary [´kʌstəməri] a.通常的；惯例的 (高中英语单词)


• unpleasant [ʌn´plezənt] a.不愉快的；不合意的 (高中英语单词)


• persistent [pə´sistənt] a.坚持的；固执的 (高中英语单词)


• bridle [´braidl] n.(马)笼头；束缚 (高中英语单词)


• crisis [´kraisis] n.转折点；危机 (高中英语单词)


• ireland [´aiələnd] n.爱尔兰 (高中英语单词)


• radical [´rædikəl] a.根本的；主要的 (高中英语单词)


• significance [sig´nifikəns] n.意义；重要性 (高中英语单词)


• confident [´kɔnfidənt] a.有信心的，自信的 (高中英语单词)


• agitation [,ædʒi´teiʃən] n.鼓动；摇动；焦虑 (高中英语单词)


• painful [´peinfəl] a.痛(苦)的；费力的 (高中英语单词)


• uneasy [ʌn´i:zi] a.不安的；不自在的 (高中英语单词)


• decided [di´saidid] a.明显的；决定的 (高中英语单词)


• composition [,kɔmpə´ziʃən] n.写作；作曲；作品 (高中英语单词)


• withdrew [wið´dru:] withdraw的过去式 (高中英语单词)


• seeing [si:iŋ] see的现在分词 n.视觉 (高中英语单词)


• concerned [kən´sə:nd] a.有关的；担心的 (高中英语单词)


• personally [´pə:sənəli] ad.亲自；就个人来说 (高中英语单词)


• subsequent [´sʌbsikwənt] a.其次的；其后的 (高中英语单词)


• constitutional [,kɔnsti´tju:ʃənəl] a.法治的；体质的 (高中英语单词)


• deprive [di´praiv] vt.剥夺，使丧失 (高中英语单词)


• removal [ri´mu:vəl] a.可移动的；可去除的 (高中英语单词)


• formation [fɔ:´meiʃən] n.形成；构成；排列 (高中英语单词)


• desperately [´despəritli] ad.绝望地；拼命地 (高中英语单词)


• longing [´lɔŋiŋ] n.&a.渴望(的) (高中英语单词)


• conqueror [´kɔŋkərə] n.征服者，胜利者 (高中英语单词)


• napoleon [nə´pəuljən] n.拿破仑 (高中英语单词)


• ridiculous [ri´dikjuləs] a.荒谬的；可笑的 (高中英语单词)


• consultation [,kɔnsəl´teiʃən] n.商量；会诊；查阅 (英语四级单词)


• expedient [ik´spi:diənt] a.合适的 n.权宜之计 (英语四级单词)


• brutal [´bru:tl] a.兽性的；残暴的 (英语四级单词)


• indignant [in´dignənt] a.义愤的，愤慨的 (英语四级单词)


• discretion [di´skreʃən] n.谨慎；判断(力) (英语四级单词)


• partisan [,pɑ:ti´zæn] n.党人 a.有偏袒的 (英语四级单词)


• manifold [´mænifəuld] a.多样的；多种特征的 (英语四级单词)


• foresight [´fɔ:sait] n.先见，深谋远虑 (英语四级单词)


• eventually [i´ventʃuəli] ad.最后，终于 (英语四级单词)


• graham [´greiəm] a.&n.用全麦粉做的 (英语四级单词)


• policy [´pɔlisi] n.政策；权谋；保险单 (英语四级单词)


• precise [pri´sais] a.精确的；清楚的 (英语四级单词)


• odious [´əudiəs] a.可憎的；丑恶的 (英语四级单词)


• gracefully [´greisfuli] ad.优美地，斯文地 (英语四级单词)


• concede [kən´si:d] v.承认；给予；让步 (英语四级单词)


• arisen [ə´rizn] arise的过去分词 (英语四级单词)


• pathetic [pə´θetik] a.可怜的；悲哀的 (英语四级单词)


• embarrassment [im´bærəsmənt] n.窘迫；困惑；为难 (英语四级单词)


• frenzy [´frenzi] n.&vt.(使)狂乱 (英语四级单词)


• composure [kəm´pəuʒə] n.镇静，沉着 (英语四级单词)


• firmness [´fə:mnis] n.坚定；坚硬；稳定 (英语四级单词)


• readiness [´redinis] n.准备就绪；愿意 (英语四级单词)


• triumphant [trai´ʌmfənt] a.胜利的；洋洋得意的 (英语四级单词)


• exclamation [,eksklə´meiʃən] n.喊(惊)叫；感叹词 (英语四级单词)


• summary [´sʌməri] a.&n.摘要(的) (英语四级单词)


• accession [ək´seʃən] n.就职；增加；接近 (英语六级单词)


• filial [´filiəl] a.子女的；孝顺的 (英语六级单词)


• powerless [´pauələs] a.软弱的；无资源的 (英语六级单词)


• cracked [krækt] a.有裂缝的；碎的；粗哑 (英语六级单词)


• malicious [mə´liʃəs] a.恶意的；预谋的 (英语六级单词)


• animosity [æni´mɔsiti] n.仇恨；憎恨；敌意 (英语六级单词)


• disgraceful [dis´greisful] a.可耻的；不光彩的 (英语六级单词)


• vigilance [´vidʒiləns] n.警惕，警戒 (英语六级单词)


• baroness [´bærənis] n.男爵夫人，女男爵 (英语六级单词)


• dependence [di´pendəns] n.信赖，依赖 (英语六级单词)


• impending [im´pendiŋ] a.即将发生的 (英语六级单词)


• undesirable [,ʌndi´zaiərəbəl] a.&n.不受欢迎的(人) (英语六级单词)


• mechanically [mi´kænikəli] ad.机械地；无意识地 (英语六级单词)


• attainment [ə´teinmənt] n.达到；得到；造诣 (英语六级单词)


• disagreement [,disə´gri:mənt] n.不一致；争论 (英语六级单词)


• unchanged [ʌn´tʃeindʒd] a.不变的；依然如故的 (英语六级单词)


• outrageous [aut´reidʒəs] a.横蛮的；残暴的 (英语六级单词)


• uneasily [ʌn´i:zili] ad.不安地；局促地 (英语六级单词)


• relentless [ri´lentləs] a.无情的；坚韧的 (英语六级单词)


• verbal [´və:bəl] a.文字上的；口头的 (英语六级单词)