queen victoria-第40章
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p by the Prince for the occasion； the foundation…stone of the new edifice was laid； and by 1855 it was habitable。 Spacious； built of granite in the Scotch baronial style； with a tower 100 feet high； and minor turrets and castellated gables； the castle was skilfully arranged to command the finest views of the surrounding mountains and of the neighbouring river Dee。 Upon the interior decorations Albert and Victoria lavished all their care。 The wall and the floors were of pitch…pine； and covered with specially manufactured tartars。 The Balmoral tartan； in red and grey； designed by the Prince； and the Victoria tartan； with a white stripe； designed by the Queen； were to be seen in every room： there were tartan curtains； and tartan chair…covers； and even tartan linoleums。 Occasionally the Royal Stuart tartan appeared； for Her Majesty always maintained that she was an ardent Jacobite。 Water…colour sketches by Victoria hung upon the walls； together with innumerable stags' antlers； and the head of a boar； which had been shot by Albert in Germany。 In an alcove in the hall； stood a life…sized statue of Albert in Highland dress。
Victoria declared that it was perfection。 〃Every year；〃 she wrote； 〃my heart becomes more fixed in this dear paradise； and so much more so now； that ALL has become my dear Albert's own creation； own work； own building； own lay…out。。。 and his great taste； and the impress of his dear hand； have been stamped everywhere。〃
And here； in very truth； her happiest days were passed。 In after years； when she looked back upon them； a kind of glory； a radiance as of an unearthly holiness； seemed to glow about these golden hours。 Each hallowed moment stood out clear； beautiful； eternally significant。 For； at the time； every experience there； sentimental； or grave； or trivial； had come upon her with a peculiar vividness； like a flashing of marvellous lights。 Albert's stalkingsan evening walk when she lost her wayVicky sitting down on a wasps' nesta torchlight dancewith what intensity such things； and ten thousand like them； impressed themselves upon her eager consciousness！ And how she flew to her journal to note them down！ The news of the Duke's death！ What a momentwhen； as she sat sketching after a picnic by a loch in the lonely hills； Lord Derby's letter had been brought to her； and she had learnt that 〃ENGLAND'S； or rather BRITAIN'S pride； her glory； her hero； the greatest man she had ever produced； was no morel。〃 For such were here reflections upon the 〃old rebel〃 of former days。 But that past had been utterly obliteratedno faintest memory of it remained。 For years she had looked up to the Duke as a figure almost superhuman。 Had he not been a supporter of good Sir Robert？ Had he not asked Albert to succeed him as commander…in…chief？ And what a proud moment it had been when he stood as sponsor to her son Arthur； who was born on his eighty…first birthday！ So now she filled a whole page of her diary with panegyrical regrets。 〃His position was the highest a subject ever hadabove partylooked up to by allrevered by the whole nationthe friend of the Sovereign。。。 The Crown never possessedand I fear never WILLso DEVOTED； loyal； and faithful a subject； so staunch a supporter！ To US his loss is IRREPARABLE。。。 To Albert he showed the greatest kindness and the utmost confidence。。。 Not an eye will be dry in the whole country。〃 These were serious thoughts； but they were soon succeeded by others hardly less movingby events as impossible to forgetby Mr。 MacLeod's sermon on Nicodemusby the gift of a red flannel petticoat to Mrs。 P。 Farquharson； and another to old Kitty Kear。
But； without doubt； most memorable； most delightful of all were the expeditionsthe rare； exciting expeditions up distant mountains； across broad rivers； through strange country； and lasting several days。 With only two gilliesGrant and Brownfor servants； and with assumed names。 It was more like something in a story than real life。 〃We had decided to call ourselves LORD AND LADY CHURCHILL AND AND PARTYLady Churchill passing as MISS SPENCER and General Grey as DR。 GREY！ Brown once forgot this and called me 'Your Majesty' as I was getting into the carriage； and Grant on the box once called Albert 'Your Royal Highness；' which set us off laughing； but no one observed it。〃 Strong； vigorous； enthusiastic； bringing； so it seemed； good fortune with herthe Highlanders declared she had 〃a lucky foot〃she relished everythingthe scrambles and the views and the contretemps and the rough inns with their coarse fare and Brown and Grant waiting at table。 She could have gone on for ever and ever； absolutely happy with Albert beside her and Brown at her pony's head。 But the time came for turning homewards； alas！ the time came for going back to England。 She could hardly bear it； she sat disconsolate in her room and watched the snow falling。 The last day！ Oh！ If only she could be snowed up！
III
The Crimean War brought new experiences； and most of them were pleasant ones。 It was pleasant to be patriotic and pugnacious； to look out appropriate prayers to be read in the churches； to have news of glorious victories； and to know oneself； more proudly than ever； the representative of England。 With that spontaneity of feeling which was so peculiarly her own； Victoria poured out her emotion； her admiration； her pity； her love； upon her 〃dear soldiers。〃 When she gave them their medals her exultation knew no bounds。 〃Noble fellows！〃 she wrote to the King of the Belgians； 〃I own I feel as if these were MY OWN CHILDREN； my heart beats for THEM as for my NEAREST and DEAREST。 They were so touched； so pleased； many； I hear； criedand they won't hear of giving up their medals to have their names engraved upon them for fear they should not receive the IDENTICAL ONE put into THEIR HANDS BY ME； which is quite touching。 Several came by in a sadly mutilated state。〃 She and they were at one。 They felt that she had done them a splendid honour； and she； with perfect genuineness； shared their feeling。 Albert's attitude towards such things was different； there was an austerity in him which quite prohibited the expansions of emotion。 When General Williams returned from the heroic defence of Kars and was presented at Court； the quick； stiff； distant bow with which the Prince received him struck like ice upon the beholders。 He was a stranger still。
But he had other things to occupy him； more important； surely； than the personal impressions of military officers and people who went to Court。 He was at workceaselessly at workon the tremendous task of carrying through the war to a successful conclusion。 State papers； despatches； memoranda； poured from him in an overwhelming stream。 Between 1853 and 1857 fifty folio volumes were filled with the comments of his pen upon the Eastern question。 Nothing would induce him to stop。 Weary ministers staggered under the load of his advice； but his advice continued； piling itself up over their writing…tables； and flowing out upon them from red box after red box。 Nor was it advice to be ignored。 The talent for administration which had reorganised the royal palaces and planned the Great Exhibition asserted itself no less in the confused complexities of war。 Again and again the Prince's suggestions； rejected or unheeded at first； were adopted under the stress of circumstances and found to be full of value。 The enrolment of a foreign legion； the establishment of a depot for troops at Malta； the institution of periodical reports and tabulated returns as to the condition of the army at Sebastopolsuch were the contrivances and the achievements of his indefatigable brain。 He went further： in a lengthy minute he laid down the lines for a radical reform in the entire administration of the army。 This was premature； but his proposal that 〃a camp of evolution〃 should be created； in which troops should be concentrated and drilled； proved to be the germ of Aldershot。
Meanwhile Victoria had made a new friend： she had suddenly been captivated by Napoleon III。 Her dislike of him had been strong at first。 She considered that he was a disreputable adventurer who had usurped the throne of poor old Louis Philippe； and besides he was hand…in…glove with Lord Palmerston。 For a long time； although he w
