Page:The Queens of England.djvu/590

534 THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND. flowing with emotion, requesting to be left alone and undis- turbed for a time ; and the first hours of her reign were spent in fervent prayer for herself and her people. Thus began a new era for England. Her parentage had formed, in large measure, the character that was to dominate that era. Though somewhat remote from the throne at her birth, the Duke, her father, received regrets as well as congratulations, and in reply to one we note the spirit of the man : "I assure you how truly sensible I am of the kind and flattering intentions of those who are prompted to express a degree of disappointment from the circumstance of the child not proving a son instead of a daughter. I feel it due to myself to declare that such sentiments are not in unison with my own, for I am decidedly of opinion that the decrees of Providence are at all times wisest and best." Both parents seemed to realize in unusual degree the possible future of their child. On one occasion the Duke playfully held up the baby girl, saying: "Look at her well, for she will some day be Queen of England." After the death of her father, which occurred when the Princess was eight months old, the Duchess gave her undivided attention to the care and development of her child. Her father left little but debts to his widow and orphan, but the Dnchess petitioned Parliament in behalf of the future of the Princess, and an allowance was granted for her main- tenance and education proportionate to her high position ; also a grant of £6,000 a year to the Duchess of Kent. The Princess had the best of instructors in Greek and Latin, as well as in modern languages, mathematics, history, geography; language being a special delight to her, and much time was also given to music, drawing and dancing, of which, girl-like, she was very fond. Kensington, her native palace, was her home during these years. Here she was constantly with her mother, sleeping in her room, and having her supper at a small table beside her mother at dinner. The mother love, the companionship -of so mature and intelligent a mind as that of the Duchess, developed a different character than would the constant intercourse with child playmates, and instruction superintended by one giving less interest than the mother gave. The wisdom and good sense of the Duchess was manifest throughout the minority of the Princess, in the moral as well as the intellectual training she so carefully guided, "not merely learning facts or acquiring