She brought Disraeli unclouded domestic happiness. She loved him and believed in him. Her oddities were more superficial than people thought, for although she was so voluble and so indiscreet a talker, and absolutely in her husband’s confidence, she never betrayed it. She was no social leader as Lady Palmerston was; what influence she had was passive rather than active, yet without her single-minded devotion, it is doubtful if Disraeli would have had so great a career. To paraphrase his own words in _Coningsby_ on marriage, he found in her one who gave him perfect and profound sympathy, could share his joys and often his sorrows, aid him in his projects, respond to his fancies, counsel him in his cares and support him in dangers, and “make life charming by her charms, interesting by her intelligence, and sweet by the vigilant variety of her tenderness.” Mrs. Dawson, wife of the Right Hon. George Dawson and sister of Sir Robert Peel, was one of Mrs. Disraeli’s greatest friends. George Dawson wrote the following lines to accompany a reproduction of Mrs. Disraeli’s portrait by A. E. Chalon, published in Heath’s _Book of Beauty_ (1841). They probably reflect what those who knew Mrs. Disraeli best felt with regard to her: “The choice unfetter’d fondly turns to thee: Still to thee turns, all-confident to find The features but the index of the mind, Glowing with truth, sincerity, and ease, Stamp’d with the surest attributes to please. Intelligent and gay, the joyous smile Speaking a bosom free from art or guile, Pure as the consciousness of well-spent life, Perfect as friend, as daughter, sister, wife.” VI MRS. GLADSTONE “Fate grants not passionless repose To her who weds a glorious name.” I Catherine, elder daughter and third child of Sir Stephen Glynne, eighth Baronet, by his wife, Mary Neville, daughter of the second Lord Braybrooke, was born at Hawarden Castle, Flintshire, on 6th January 1812. Lady Glynne was a granddaughter of George Grenville--Sir Richard Grenville of the _Revenge_ was a member of this family--the Minister whose Government was responsible for the “Stamp Act” (1763), which led to the loss of the American Colonies, and niece of Lord Grenville, Prime Minister in 1806-7, and head of the Cabinet of “All the talents,” which abolished the Slave Trade. His only sister became the wife of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, and the mother of William Pitt, the Younger. Thus Catherine Glynne was related by birth with four famous Prime Ministers of England, and was destined to become the wife of a fifth. [Illustration: MRS. GLADSTONE (ON THE LEFT) AND HER SISTER, LADY LYTTELTON, ON THE LAWN AT HAWARDEN]