queen victoria-第29章

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as　too　little　removed　from　the　world。　After　all；　the　Solent　was　a　feeble　barrier。　Oh；　for　some　distant；　some　almost　inaccessible　sanctuary；　where；　in　true　domestic　privacy；　one　could　make　happy　holiday；　just　as　ifor　at　least　very；　very；　nearlyone　were　anybody　else！　Victoria；　ever　since；　together　with　Albert；　she　had　visited　Scotland　in　the　early　years　of　her　marriage；　had　felt　that　her　heart　was　in　the　Highlands。　She　had　returned　to　them　a　few　years　later；　and　her　passion　had　grown。　How　romantic　they　were！　And　how　Albert　enjoyed　them　too！　His　spirits　rose　quite　wonderfully　as　soon　as　he　found　himself　among　the　hills　and　the　conifers。　〃It　is　a　happiness　to　see　him；〃　she　wrote。　〃Oh！　What　can　equal　the　beauties　of　nature！〃　she　exclaimed　in　her　journal；　during　one　of　these　visits。　〃What　enjoyment　there　is　in　them！　Albert　enjoys　it　so　much；　he　is　in　ecstasies　here。〃　〃Albert　said；〃　she　noted　next　day；　〃that　the　chief　beauty　of　mountain　scenery　consists　in　its　frequent　changes。　We　came　home　at　six　o'clock。〃　Then　she　went　on　a　longer　expeditionup　to　the　very　top　of　a　high　hill。　〃It　was　quite　romantic。　Here　we　were　with　only　this　Highlander　behind　us　holding　the　ponies　（for　we　got　off　twice　and　walked　about）。　。　。　。　We　came　home　at　half…past　eleven；the　most　delightful；　most　romantic　ride　and　walk　I　ever　had。　I　had　never　been　up　such　a　mountain；　and　then　the　day　was　so　fine。〃　The　Highlanders；　too；　were　such　astonishing　people。　They　〃never　make　difficulties；〃　she　noted；　〃but　are　cheerful；　and　happy；　and　merry；　and　ready　to　walk；　and　run；　and　do　anything。〃　As　for　Albert　he　〃highly　appreciated　the　good…breeding；　simplicity；　and　intelligence；　which　make　it　so　pleasant　and　even　instructive　to　talk　to　them。〃　〃We　were　always　in　the　habit；〃　wrote　Her　Majesty；　〃of　conversing　with　the　Highlanderswith　whom　one　comes　so　much　in　contact　in　the　Highlands。〃　She　loved　everything　about　themtheir　customs；　their　dress；　their　dances；　even　their　musical　instruments。　〃There　were　nine　pipers　at　the　castle；〃　she　wrote　after　staying　with　Lord　Breadalbane；　〃sometimes　one　and　sometimes　three　played。　They　always　played　about　breakfast…time；　again　during　the　morning；　at　luncheon；　and　also　whenever　we　went　in　and　out；　again　before　dinner；　and　during　most　of　dinner…time。　We　both　have　become　quite　fond　of　the　bag…pipes。

It　was　quite　impossible　not　to　wish　to　return　to　such　pleasures　again　and　again；　and　in　1848　the　Queen　took　a　lease　of　Balmoral　House；　a　small　residence　near　Braemar　in　the　wilds　of　Aberdeenshire。　Four　years　later　she　bought　the　place　outright。　Now　she　could　be　really　happy　every　summer；　now　she　could　be　simple　and　at　her　ease；　now　she　could　be　romantic　every　evening；　and　dote　upon　Albert；　without　a　single　distraction；　all　day　long。　The　diminutive　scale　of　the　house　was　in　itself　a　charm。　Nothing　was　more　amusing　than　to　find　oneself　living　in　two　or　three　little　sittingrooms；　with　the　children　crammed　away　upstairs；　and　the　minister　in　attendance　with　only　a　tiny　bedroom　to　do　all　his　work　in。　And　then　to　be　able　to　run　in　and　out　of　doors　as　one　liked；　and　to　sketch；　and　to　walk；　and　to　watch　the　red　deer　coming　so　surprisingly　close；　and　to　pay　visits　to　the　cottagers！　And　occasionally　one　could　be　more　adventurous　stillone　could　go　and　stay　for　a　night　or　two　at　the　Bothie　at　Alt…na…giuthasacha　mere　couple　of　huts　with　〃a　wooden　addition〃and　only　eleven　people　in　the　whole　party！　And　there　were　mountains　to　be　climbed　and　cairns　to　be　built　in　solemn　pomp。　〃At　last；　when　the　cairn；　which　is；　I　think；　seven　or　eight　feet　high；　was　nearly　completed；　Albert　climbed　up　to　the　top　of　it；　and　placed　the　last　stone；　after　which　three　cheers　were　given。　It　was　a　gay；　pretty；　and　touching　sight；　and　I　felt　almost　inclined　to　cry。　The　view　was　so　beautiful　over　the　dear　hills；　the　day　so　fine；　the　whole　so　gemuthlich。〃　And　in　the　evening　there　were　sword…dances　and　reels。

But　Albert　had　determined　to　pull　down　the　little　old　house；　and　to　build　in　its　place　a　castle　of　his　own　designing。　With　great　ceremony；　in　accordance　with　a　memorandum　drawn　up　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