but in courage and composure in the presence of danger
she was no unworthy successor of that great queen. In
William's passionate declarations of his debt to her there
was no extravagance at all. To him she had been the
most affectionate, dutiful, and forbearing of wives, and
if her influence over him fell short of retaining his
marital constancy, she endeared herself more closely to
him on the side of the purer emotions by her magnani-
mous forgiveness of his errors. It cannot but soften the
harsher outlines of our conception of William, and help
to supply that human and homely element which is too
much wanting in his character, to know that he was
capable both of inspiring and reciprocating so true an
affection as this.

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