multitude of scarcely perceptible degrees out of the earliest form
of Christianity, and if we adopted this notion of legitimate
development, we ran a risk of making Saint Paul responsible for
the Vatican council. She talked much about the hospitals, in which
she worked so hard while nursing her baby, a very fine one, whom
she introduced to me, with two flourishing elder children. She
hates war; and is not easy as to the future.

_Sept. 29._--I have had a twelve-mile stretch to-day, almost all on
wild ground, and so solitary! not a living creature except three
brace of grouse all the way. I am glad to report that I came in
very fresh. ... What a mess the Bishop of Winchester has made of
this Glengarry kirk business.

_Sept. 30._--Last night we dined ten at Abergeldie. The Prince of
Wales had his usual pleasant manners. He is far lighter in hand
than the Duke of Edinburgh. After dinner he invited me to play
whist. I said, "For love, sir?" He said, "Well, shillings and
half-a-crown on the rubber," to which I submitted. Ponsonby and I
against the Prince and Brasseur, a charming old Frenchman, his
tutor in the language. The Prince has apparently an _immense_
whist memory, and plays well accordingly. To-day the Queen was to
have seen me at six, but sent to postpone it till to-morrow on
account of expecting the Princess of Wales, who was to come over
and pay her a visit from Abergeldie. I think she is nervous, and
shrinks from talk; but I do not mean to say a word that would give
her trouble, as there would be no good in it at this moment.

_Oct. 3._--I have seen the Queen again this morning. She conversed
longer, near an hour, and was visibly better and stronger, and in
good spirits. She told me much about her illness. ... She wished
me a pleasant journey.

_Ballater, Oct. 4._--Here am I ensconced in the station-master's
box at Ballater, after a 15 or 16 mile walk round through the
hills, the regular train being postponed for an hour or more to
let the couple from Mar Lodge go off special. They had two
carriages laden with luggage, besides their own carriage! I hope
to be at Colwyn soon after six. These solitary walks among the
hills, I think, refresh and invigorate me more than anything else.
To-day the early part of the day was glorious, and the wind most
bracing as it ca