ussell were touched by the Queen's
kindness in coming to visit them at Pembroke Lodge, and she had
then seen Lord Amberley's children.

_Queen Victoria to Lady Russell_

WINDSOR CASTLE, _July_ 3, 1874

DEAREST LADY RUSSELL,--Your two sad and touching letters have
affected me deeply, and I thank you much for writing to me. It is
too dreadful that the dear little girl whose bright eyes and look
of health I so well remember at Pembroke Lodge should also be
taken. May God support your poor unhappy son, for whom your heart
must bleed, and whose agony of grief and bereavement seems almost
too much to bear. But if he will but trust our Father in Heaven,
and feel all is sent in love, though he may have to go through
months and years of the bitterest sufferings, and of anguish
indescribable, he will find peace and resignation and comfort come
at last--when it seems farthest. _I_ know this myself. For
you, dear Lady Russell and dear Lord Russell, I do feel so deeply.
Your trials have been so great lately.... I shall be really
grateful if you would write to me again to say how Lord Russell
bears this new blow, and how your poor son Amberley is. Agatha, who
is so devoted a daughter, will, I am sure, do all she can now to
help and comfort you, but she will be deeply distressed herself.
And poor dear Lady Clarendon is dying I fear, and poor Emily
Russell only just confined, and unable to go and see her. It is
dreadful.

With fervent prayers that your health may not suffer, and that you
may be mercifully supported.

Ever yours affectionately,

V.R.

_Lord Russell to Lady Minto_

PEMBROKE LODGE, _July_ 3, 1874

MY DEAR NINA,--We are struck down by the death of my dear pet,
Rachel, who was taken from us to stay with her parents at
Ravenscroft. It was but too natural that Kate should wish to have
her child with her, but the event is heart-breaking--such a
darling, so bright, so pretty.

"Elle a dure ce que durent les roses,
L'espace d'un matin."

I am always touched by those French verses, and now I apply them
tearfully.

Ever yours affectionately,

RUSSELL

In the summer of 1874 Lord Russell took Aldworth, Tennyson's beautiful home
near Haslemere, where they remained for some months.

_Lady Russell to Lord Amberley_

ALDWORTH, HASLEMERE, _Nove