It was Victoria's as well.

In this direction, if in no other, she had allowed her mind to develop.

Under Disraeli's tutelage the British Dominions over the seas had come to mean much more to her than ever before, and, in particular, she had grown enamoured of the East.

The thought of India fascinated her; she set to, and learnt a little Hindustani; she engaged some Indian servants, who became her inseparable attendants, and one of whom, Munshi Abdul Karim, eventually almost succeeded to the position which had once been John Brown's.

At the same time, the imperialist temper of the nation invested her office with a new significance exactly harmonising with her own inmost proclivities.