A record was kept of the little Prince’s doings during the day. His frequent colds, his coughs, his acts of devotion, his appetite at meals, his games, his toys, his little tempers, his deeds of obedience, were all entered in the register as signs of his temperament and as indications of his future character as a man.
The Prince’s apartments were dreary. The windows were high up in the thick walls, the ceilings were low, and, as a grandee says when speaking of this fact, it seemed strange that the light and air so essential for a child should be insufficiently supplied to a future King. General Pavia, who was gentleman-in-waiting to Alfonso, only shrugged his shoulders at this remark, but Señor Morphy ventured to say: “That is our opinion, but she who commands, commands.”
When the grandee was introduced to the little Prince, he returned the salutation with the manner of one accustomed to it, but with a pretty smile which was very attractive.
“Yes,” said his attendant, “His Royal Highness is better to-day. He only has a little cough now, but the doctor says he is not to be tired with lessons to-day; he is only to rest.”
“Last night,” said the General, “His Highness asked for his lead soldiers to play with in bed. He did not want to say his prayers. So I had to fetch the new prayer-book which Her Majesty sent a few days ago, and I read the prayers whilst he repeated them after me. So in this way he said his prayers, but not willingly.”
Hereupon Alfonso protested, saying: “But this morning, Marquis, I said my prayers without your reading anything.”
“Yes, yes,” returned the gentleman; “but Your Highness did not want to get up, so I had to read stories to you until the doctor came.”
A few pages from the diary of the young Prince of Asturias gives some insight into the dreary daily life of the delicate child:
“October 1, 1866.—His Highness breakfasted at 11 o’clock. At 1 o’clock he had drilling till 1.40. At 2 o’clock a writing lesson with Señor Castilla; at 3 o’clock religion with Señor Fernandez; 4.30, rice soup as usual; 4.50 he went up to the rooms of Her Majesty to go for a drive with her.
“October 4.—His Highness played about till 2.15. He had no lessons to-day, as being Her Majesty’s saint’s day. At 2.43 he went up to the Queen’s apartments to assist at the reception. He wore the uniform of a sergeant, with the Cross of Pelayo. The ceremony over at 6.15, when His Highness came down with Señor Novaliches, as a boot hurt him (not the Marquis, but His Highness). The said Marquis took off the boot, and carefully examined the foot, but he found nothing to account for the pain. Mention is made of this circumstance as the Chief of the Chamber of His Highness thinks it fitting to do so....