Still the
fact that the King was obliged to esteem her character so highly
maintained her in her outward position. Later, his relations with
women influenced his emotions very slightly. Even his sister at
Bayreuth, sickly, nervous, embittered by jealousy of an unfaithful
husband, was estranged from her brother for years; and not until she
had given up all hope of life did this proud member of the House of
Brandenburg, aging and unhappy, seek again the heart of the brother
whose little hand she had once held as they stood before their stern
father. His mother also, to whom King Frederick always showed
excellent filial devotion, was not able to occupy a large place in his
heart. His other brothers and sisters were younger, and were only too
much disposed to hatch obscure domestic conspiracies against him. If
the King ever condescended to show any attentions to a lady of the
court or of the stage, these were in general as disturbing as they
were flattering for the persons in question. When he found
intelligence, grace, and womanly dignity united, as in Frau von Camas,
who was the Queen's first lady-in-waiting, he expressed the amiability
of his nature in many cordial attentions. But on the whole, women did
not add much light or splendor to his life, and the cordial intimacy
of family life hardly ever warmed his heart. In this direction his
feelings were dried up. This was perhaps fortunate for his people, it
was undoubtedly fatal to his private life.
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