w importance began to attach to the Crown。 The need for a symbola symbol of England's might； of England's worth； of England's extraordinary and mysterious destinybecame felt more urgently than ever before。 The Crown was that symbol： and the Crown rested upon the head of Victoria。 Thus it happened that while by the end of the reign the power of the sovereign had appreciably diminished； the prestige of the sovereign had enormously grown。
Yet this prestige was not merely the outcome of public changes； it was an intensely personal matter； too。 Victoria was the Queen of England； the Empress of India； the quintessential pivot round which the whole magnificent machine was revolvingbut how much more besides！ For one thing； she was of a great agean almost indispensable qualification for popularity in England。 She had given proof of one of the most admired characteristics of the racepersistent vitality。 She had reigned for sixty years； and she was not out。 And then； she was a character。 The outlines of her nature were firmly drawn； and； even through the mists which envelop royalty； clearly visible。 In the popular imagination her familiar figure filled； with satisfying ease； a distinct and memorable place。 It was； besides； the kind of figure which naturally called forth the admiring sympathy of the great majority of the nation。 Goodness they prized above every other human quality； and Victoria； who had said that she would be good at the age of twelve； had kept her word。 Duty； conscience； moralityyes！ in the light of those high beacons the Queen had always lived。 She had passed her days in work and not in pleasurein public responsibilities and family cares。 The standard of solid virtue which had been set up so long ago amid the domestic happiness of Osborne had never been lowered for an instant。 For more than half a century no divorced lady had approached the precincts of the Court。 Victoria； indeed； in her enthusiasm for wifely fidelity； had laid down a still stricter ordinance： she frowned severely upon any widow who married again。 Considering that she herself was the offspring of a widow's second marriage； this prohibition might be regarded as an eccentricity； but； no doubt； it was an eccentricity on the right side。 The middle classes； firm in the triple brass of their respectability； rejoiced with a special joy over the most respectable of Queens。 They almost claimed her； indeed； as one of themselves； but this would have been an exaggeration。 For； though many of her characteristics were most often found among the middle classes； in other respectsin her manners； for instanceVictoria was decidedly aristocratic。 And； in one important particular； she was neither aristocratic nor middle…class： her attitude toward herself was simply regal。
Such qualities were obvious and important； but； in the impact of a personality； it is something deeper； something fundamental and common to all its qualities； that really tells。 In Victoria； it is easy to discern the nature of this underlying element： it was a peculiar sincerity。 Her truthfulness； her single…mindedness； the vividness of her emotions and her unrestrained expression of them； were the varied forms which this central characteristic assumed。 It was her sincerity which gave her at once her impressiveness； her charm； and her absurdity。 She moved through life with the imposing certitude of one to whom concealment was impossibleeither towards her surroundings or towards herself。 There she was； all of herthe Queen of England； complete and obvious； the world might take her or leave her； she had nothing more to show； or to explain； or to modify； and； with her peerless carriage； she swept along her path。 And not only was concealment out of the question； reticence； reserve； even dignity itself； as it sometimes seemed； might be very well dispensed with。 As Lady Lyttelton said： 〃There is a transparency in her truth that is very strikingnot a shade of exaggeration in describing feelings or facts； like very few other people I ever knew。 Many may be as true； but I think it goes often along with some reserve。 She talks all out； just as it is； no more and no less。〃 She talked all out； and she wrote all out； too。 Her letters； in the surprising jet of their expression； remind one of a turned…on tap。 What is within pours forth in an immediate； spontaneous rush。 Her utterly unliterary style has at least the merit of being a vehicle exactly suited to her thoughts and feelings； and even the platitude of her phraseology carries with it a curiously personal flavour。 Undoubtedly it was through her writings that she touched the heart of the public。 Not only in her 〃Highland Journals〃 where the mild chronicle of her private proceedings was laid bare without a trace either of affectation or of embarrassment； but also in those remarkable messages to the nation which； from time to time； she published in the newspapers； her people found her very close to them indeed。 They felt instinctively Victoria's irresistible sincerity； and they responded。 And in truth it was an endearing trait。
The personality and the position； toothe wonderful combination of themthat； perhaps； was what was finally fascinating in the case。 The little old lady； with her white hair and her plain mourning clothes； in her wheeled chair or her donkey…carriageone saw her so； and thenclose behindwith their immediate suggestion of singularity； of mystery； and of powerthe Indian servants。 That was the familiar vision； and it was admirable； but； at chosen moments； it was right that the widow of Windsor should step forth apparent Queen。 The last and the most glorious of such occasions was the Jubilee of 1897。 Then； as the splendid procession passed along； escorting Victoria through the thronged re…echoing streets of London on her progress of thanksgiving to St。 Paul's Cathedral； the greatness of her realm and the adoration of her subjects blazed out together。 The tears welled to her eyes； and； while the multitude roared round her； 〃How kind they are to me！ How kind they are！〃 she repeated over and over again。 That night her message flew over the Empire： 〃From my heart I thank my beloved people。 May God bless them！〃 The long journey was nearly done。 But the traveller； who had come so far； and through such strange experiences； moved on with the old unfaltering step。 The girl； the wife； the aged woman； were the same： vitality； conscientiousness； pride； and simplicity were hers to the latest hour。
CHAPTER X。 THE END
The evening had been golden； but； after all； the day was to close in cloud and tempest。 Imperial needs； imperial ambitions； involved the country in the South African War。 There were checks； reverses； bloody disasters； for a moment the nation was shaken； and the public distresses were felt with intimate solicitude by the Queen。 But her spirit was high； and neither her courage nor her confidence wavered for a moment。 Throwing her self heart and soul into the struggle； she laboured with redoubled vigour； interested herself in every detail of the hostilities； and sought by every means in her power to render service to the national cause。 In April 1900； when she was in her eighty…first year； she made the extraordinary decision to abandon her annual visit to the South of France； and to go instead to Ireland； which had provided a particularly large number of recruits to the armies in the field。 She stayed for three weeks in Dublin； driving through the streets； in spite of the warnings of her advisers； without an armed escort； and the visit was a complete success。 But； in the course of it； she began； for the first time； to show signs of the fatigue of age。
For the long strain and the unceasing anxiety； brought by the war； made themselves felt at last。 Endowed by nature with a robust constitution； Victoria； though in periods of depression she had sometimes supposed herself an invalid； had in reality throughout her life enjoyed remarkably good health。 In her old age； she had suffered from a rheumatic stiffness of the joints； which had necessitated the use of a stick； and； eventually； a wheeled chair； but no other ailments attacked her； until； in 1898； her eyesight began to be affected by incipient cataract。 After that； she found reading more and more difficult； though she could still sign her name； and even； with some difflculty； write letters。 In the summer of 1900； however； more serious symptoms appeared。 Her memory； in whose strength and precision she had so long prided herself； now sometimes deserted her； there was a tendency towards aphasia； and； while no specific disease declared itself； by the autumn there were unmistakable signs of a general physical decay。 Yet； even in these last months； the strain of iron held firm。 The daily work continued； nay； it actually increased； for the Queen； with an astonishing pertinacity； insisted upon communicating personally with an ever…growing multitude of men and women who had suffered through the war。
By the end of the year the last remains of her ebbing strength had almost deserted her； and through the early days of the opening century it was clear that her dwindling forces were only kept together by an effort of will。 On January 14； she had at Osborne an hour's interview with Lord Roberts； who had returned victorious from South Africa a few days before。 She inquired with acute anxiety into all the details of the war； she appeared to sustain the exertion successfully； but； when the audience was over； there was a collapse。 On the following day her medical attendants recognised that her state was hopeless； and yet； for two days more； the indomitable spirit fought on； for two days more she discharged the duties of a Queen of England。 But after that there was an end of working； and then； and not till then； did the last optimism of those about her break down。 The brain was failing； and life was gently slipping away。 Her family gathered round her； for a little more she lingered； speechless and apparently insensible； and； on January 22； 1901； she died。
When； two days previously； the news of the approaching end had been made public； astonished grief had swept over the country。 It appeared as if some monstrous reversal of the course of nature was about to take place。 The vast majority of her subjects had never known