hich Mdlle. Charier had explained
to her, I must tell you the following _bon mot_. When she was riding
on her pony, and looking at the cows and sheep, she turned to Mdlle.
Charier and said: "_Voila_ le tableau qui se deroule a mes pieds." Is
not this extraordinary for a little child of three years old? It is
more like what a person of twenty would say. You have no notion _what_
a knowing, and I am sorry to say _sly_, little rogue she is, and
so _obstinate_. She and _le petit Frere_ accompany us to dear old
Claremont to-day; Alice remains here under Lady Lyttelton's care. How
sorry I am that you should have hurt your leg, and in such a provoking
way; Albert says he remembers well your playing often with a pen-knife
when you talked, and I remember it also, but it is really dangerous.

I am happy that the news from Paris are good; the really good
understanding between our two Governments provokes the Carlists and
Anarchists. Bordeaux[1] is not yet gone; I saw in a letter that it was
_debated_ in his presence whether he was on any favourable occasion
_de se presenter en France!_Do you think that possible? Then again
the papers say that there are fortifications being made on the coast
of Normandy for fear of an invasion; is this so? These are many
questions, but I hope you will kindly answer them, as they interest
me. With Albert's love. Believe me, ever, your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 1: The Duc de Bordeaux, only son of the Duc de
Berri, had by the death of Charles X. and the renunciation
of all claims to the French Throne on the part of the Duc
d'Angouleme, become the representative of the elder branch of
the Bourbons. He had intended his visit to England to have a
private character only.]

[Pageheading: THE SPANISH MARRIAGE]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen._

CLAREMONT, _10th January 1844_.

The Queen understands that there is a negotiation with Sweden and
Denmark pending about the cessation of their tribute to Morocco,
likewise that Prince Metternich has sent a despatch condemning as
unfair the understanding come to between us and France about the
Spanish marriage;[2] that there is a notion of exchanging Hong Kong
for a more healthy colony.

The Queen, taking a deep interest in all these matters, and feeling it
her duty to do so, begs Lord Aberdeen to keep her always well informed
of what is on the _tapis_ in his Department.

[Footnote 2: _See ante_, v