For him she would do anything.

Yielding to his encouragements, she began to emerge from her seclusion; she appeared in London in semi-state, at hospitals and concerts; she opened Parliament; she reviewed troops and distributed medals at Aldershot.

But such public signs of favour were trivial in comparison with her private attentions.

During his flours of audience, she could hardly restrain her excitement and delight.

"I can only describe my reception," he wrote to a friend on one occasion, "by telling you that I really thought she was going to embrace me.