trast of their gaiety
with their horrid misfortune is very painful. Paris is looking
remarkably well and strong. Robert[53] is much grown, extremely quick
and lively, and begins to speak. The remainder of the family is,
as you may easily imagine, in the _deepest affliction_. Nemours
especially is quite broken down with grief. Chartres was _more_ than
a _brother_ to him, as he was _more_ than a _second father_ to us all.
He was the _head_ and the _heart_ and _soul_ of the whole family. We
all looked up to him, and we found him on all occasions. A _better_,
or even _such_ a brother was never seen; our loss is as great as
irreparable; but God's will be done! He had surely His motives in
sending on my unfortunate parents the horrid affliction in their
old days, and in removing from us the being who seemed the _most
necessary_ to the hope and happiness of all; we must submit to His
decrees, hard as they are; but it is impossible not to regret that my
poor brother has not at least found the death of a soldier, which
he had always wished for, instead of such a useless, horrid, and
miserable one! It seems, for no one saw him fall, that he did not
jump, as we had thought at first, but that he was thrown from the
barouche, while standing; and I like it in some measure better so, as
God's will is still more manifest in this way. It is equally manifest
in _all_ the circumstances attending the catastrophe. My poor brother
was not even to have come to Neuilly. He had taken leave of my parents
the day before, and would not have gone again if my unfortunate mother
had not asked him, and if my parents, who were to go to Paris, had not
delayed their departure....

I thank you again and again, my beloved Victoria, for all your
interest and sympathy. I was sure you would think of us and of me: you
know how much I loved my brother. I little expected to outlive him, as
I had done my beloved Mary;[54] but once more, _God's will be done_. I
remain now and ever, yours most devotedly,

LOUISE.

I perceive I forgot mentioning Ernest. Pray thank him for his sympathy
also. He knows what a brother is, and may feel for us! We expect on
Saturday poor Joinville. My father will have thus his four remaining
sons round him for the opening of the Session, which takes place on
the 26th, and at which he must preside in person. It is a hard duty
for him.

[Footnote 53: The young Duc de Chartres, born in 1840.]

[Footnote 54: See _ante_, p. 144.