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IV.
Queen Anne bore a little grudge to the Duchess Josiana, for two reasons.
Firstly, because she thought the Duchess Josiana handsome. Secondly,
because she thought the Duchess Josiana's betrothed handsome. Two
reasons for jealousy are sufficient for a woman. One is sufficient for a
queen. Let us add that she bore her a grudge for being her sister. Anne
did not like women to be pretty. She considered it against good morals.
As for herself, she was ugly. Not from choice, however. A part of her
religion she derived from that ugliness. Josiana, beautiful and
philosophical, was a cause of vexation to the queen. To an ugly queen, a
pretty duchess is not an agreeable sister.
There was another grievance, Josiana's "improper" birth. Anne was the
daughter of Anne Hyde, a simple gentlewoman, legitimately, but
vexatiously, married by James II. when Duke of York. Anne, having this
inferior blood in her veins, felt herself but half royal, and Josiana,
having come into the world quite irregularly, drew closer attention to
the incorrectness, less great, but really existing, in the birth of the
queen. The daughter of mésalliance looked without love upon the
daughter of bastardy, so near her. It was an unpleasant resemblance.
Josiana had a right to say to Anne, "My mother was at least as good as
yours." At court no one said so, but they evidently thought it. This was
a bore for her royal Majesty. Why this Josiana? What had put it into her
head to be born? What good was a Josiana? Certain relationships are
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