The Greville Memoirs, Part 3 (of 3), Volume 2 (of 2): A Journal of the Reign of Queen Victoria from 1852 to 1860Greville, Charles
History
The Greville Memoirs, Part 3 (of 3), Volume 2 (of 2): A Journal of the Reign of Queen Victoria from 1852 to 1860
Greville, Charles
Great Britain -- History -- Victoria, 1837-1901
came to resent her indifference, and ended by estranging himself from
her entirely, and proved the strength of his feeling by his obstinate
refusal to continue even his acquaintance with her. Her other admirer
was Charles Buller, with whom she was extremely intimate, but without
ever reciprocating his love. Curiously enough, they were very like
each other in person, as well as in their mental accomplishments. They
had both the same spirits and cleverness in conversation, and the same
quickness and drollery in repartee. I remember Allen well describing
them, when he said that their talk was like that in the polite
conversation between Never Out and Miss Notable. Her faults appeared
to be caprice and a disposition to quarrels and _tracasseries_ about
nothing, which, however common amongst ordinary women, were unworthy
of her superior understanding. But during her last illness all that
was bad and hard in her nature seemed to be improved and softened,
and she became full of charity, good-will, and the milk of human
kindness. Her brother and her sister-in-law, who, forgetting former
estrangements, hastened to her sickbed, were received by her with
overflowing tenderness, and all selfish and unamiable feelings seemed
to be entirely subdued within her. Had she recovered she would probably
have lived a better and a happier woman, and as it is she has died
in charity with all the world, and has left behind her corresponding
sentiments of affection and regret for her memory. I was once very
intimate with her, but for a long time past our intimacy had dwindled
into ordinary acquaintance.
Footnote 1: [Harriet Mary, eldest daughter of the sixth Earl of
Sandwich, was married in 1828 to William Bingham Baring, afterwards
second Baron Ashburton. One son, the only issue of this marriage, died
in infancy. Lady Ashburton was distinguished for her wit, her social
qualities, and her hospitality, which made Bath House and the Grange
the centres of a brilliant literary society, well known by the records
of it in the Life of Mr. Carlyle and the Autobiography of Sir Henry
Taylor.]
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