Old Age

Abstract

THE NEGLECTED QUEEN had faded out of her husband’s life. Though he always treated her with outward consideration and they met on ceremonial occasions, she bored him and he could bear anything better than ennui. She, on the other hand, kept a warm place for him in her heart, and her letters to her brother Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, the distinguished soldier, are full of allusions to “our dear king.” That of July 12, 1757, on the death of the queen mother, brings us very close to the lonely woman. “Only time can help. The loss is too great and I can never forget the friendship she showed me in recent years. She had realconfidence in me and did justice to my attitude to her and the dear king. If anything could console me it is that I never failed in my duty to her and that she recognized it. She often gave me her blessing; if all her wishes are fulfilled I shall surely be happy. So I shall if God preserves him and arranges everything for the best, and if the king renders me a little more justice, this dear prince whom I love and adore as I shall to the end. What a satisfaction it used to be when I was with the dear departed and talked with her about this dear king and wished him every blessing! None of her children could regret her more than I.”