An early visit--Virginia Water--An eccentric friend--Rail _v._ coach--Humour of the road--The old coachman--The widow--Sally’s trouble--Another surprise--The “Wheatsheaf”--Beautiful scenery--Letter from the Duchess of Sutherland. A most curious dream haunted my mind throughout the night, one of those indescribable phantasmagorian illusions which set all the vibrations of the heart at work without moving the frame, or in imagination only, quite depriving our senses for the time of the true sense of existence. Scarcely had the first gleam of Aurora peeped through my curtains, than a double knock was heard at the street door, apprising me that the time for rising had come, and forthwith brought back my wandering senses to the realities of human life: a minute after, a friend popped into my dressing-room, exclaiming, “Hallo! so you are going to the seat of the war, I hear.” “The seat of the war! who told you so?” “Why, the _Times_, to be sure; I have just read your letter, which, at all events, is very likely to carry you as far as Constantinople.” “You don’t say so! What! is my letter in the _Times_ to-day?” “Of course it is,” he replied. “I sent it so late last night, I did not suppose it could appear till to-morrow, if at all.” “They would not have inserted it, arriving so late, I assure you, had they not thought it of great importance, and that you were likely to improve the hospital diets. No doubt you will soon set them to rights. I read the article, and must say I was much pleased when I saw your letter, and that is what brought me here so early: but mind, it is a long journey, and rather a dangerous one.” “Well, my dear friend, if Government honour me with their confidence, I shall be happy to start immediately, and rough it for a short time--say a couple of months, which will be about the time required.” “My opinion is, that you will soon hear from the authorities.” “I say again, they are perfectly welcome to my humble services.” “Are you going out this morning?” “Yes, I am; excuse my shaving.” “Oh, by all means; which way are you going?” “Anywhere but to a wintry place.” “Where’s that--Gravesend or Margate?” “Oh dear, no--Virginia Water.” “To stay?” “No; only to settle a few important matters there, prior to my departure for Paris.” “You were there the best part of last summer.” “So I was; who told you that?” “Don’t you recollect the party you gave there, when Messrs. R---- and ladies were present, with myself, my wife, and two daughters? We never enjoyed such a day in our lives; it really was a splendid affair altogether; and what an excellent dinner you gave us in the open air, in the long avenue of beech trees facing the lake! I shall not forget it as long as I live--I may say we, for my young ones often talk about it. There were about twenty-four guests--you recollect, of course?” “Certainly I do now, and what a lovely day it was!”