[137] “She is a pretty and large baby, and we think will be la Beauté of the family.”—The Queen to King Leopold, 9th May, 1843.
“Our little baby, whom I am really proud of, for she is so very forward for her age, is to be called Alice, an old English name; and the other names are to be Maud (another old English name, and the same as Matilda), and Mary, as she was born on Aunt Gloucester’s birthday.”—The same to the same, 16th May, 1843.
“Our christening went off very brilliantly, and I wish you could have witnessed it. Nothing could be more anständig, and little Alice behaved extremely well.”—The same to the same, 6th June, 1843.
[138] The struggle to conceal from the other children that their favorite was dead cost the Princess, down to the time of her own fatal seizure, such a daily and almost hourly effort as, in her weak state, she was ill able to bear. Her sufferings during her short illness, which lasted less than a week, were borne with exemplary patience, and an unselfish and even cheerful spirit which were truly admirable. The day before she died, she expressed to Sir William Jenner her regret that she should cause her mother so much anxiety.
