xvi AT BALMORAL 217 



so tall and the Queen so short, he said that Her 

 Majesty had such dignity of carriage that he was 

 not conscious of her being below the ordinary 

 height, and was principally impressed by the 

 beauty of her clear voice, and by the degree in 

 which her appearance excelled her portraits, she 

 having such a well-shaped handsome nose, as well 

 as such blue eyes. The Queen proved her ' Royal 

 memory ' indeed in remembering all about our 

 friendship with the Dean of Westminster and Lady 

 Augusta Stanley, and graciously inquiring after 

 our children, who had been christened by him, and 

 showing such kindness generally as to remove all 

 formality and give the real pleasures of conversa- 

 tion. Her Majesty also said with how much 

 pleasure she heard of the progress of the Museum 

 from various members of her family, and only 

 lamented that increasing lameness must prevent her 

 from visiting it herself. But it is sad to look back 

 on that most interesting dinner-party of twelve and 

 remember how many are already gone. On each 

 side of the Queen sat Prince Henry of Battenberg, 

 looking well and handsome in Highland costume, 

 and Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein, 

 just returned from his Indian campaign, of which 

 he spoke with much animation and enthusiasm. 

 Both young Princes have since died in the service 

 of their country, as well as our beloved Queen 

 herself, ' full of years and honours.' ' 



