y 1879_.

"MY DEAR LOVE,--I had a misgiving that I had given a false prospect
of reaching me at Regensburg, so I came round that way again, and
was rewarded by yours of the 24th, and Willy's of what he calls the
_22d July_.

"I did not pursue the plan I spoke of to Cos, of getting a peep of
the Alps, my investigations cutting off the time assigned to it.
But I have gone into a siding here to see the much-boasted, and, it
would seem, newly discovered touring ground of the Wald.

"I have got through my work now, but I can still find some in the
neighbourhood of Antwerp,--so that is my point, and there I shall
hope for letters.

When I last went to Blenheim, some five years ago, the railway only
reached a point some fifteen miles from it, and I could not get
back to my inn until its opening at five o'clock. Now there is
train all the way. It must be supported by agricultural produce.
Such wealth of fertility I never saw. I think, standing at any
point in the great haugh of the Danube, I could see as much grain
as all Scotland could produce. This had a curious social influence,
causing me some hardships.

"The towns are all conglomerates of farm-steadings. The country was
of old so cursed by war, that a steading in the fields was a lost
affair. The old habit still rules, and in a town the size, say, of
Linlithgow, there is not a shop or an inn except the store, whence
the farmers draw their oceans of beer in great jugs, or sometimes
meet to quaff it on the premises. I had to bribe the owner of such
an establishment to give me brown bread and cheese; hard living of
this kind, however, suits my constitution. Luckily, in
consideration, I suppose, of there being no refuge for belated
travellers, the station-master had a nice clean bedroom, which he
was entitled to let.

"I propose remaining here till to-morrow, that I may have a glimpse
of the much-lauded Wald.--Love to all from your affectionate
goodman, J.H. BURTON."

* * * * *

"EGER, _4th July 1879_.

"MY DEAR LOVE,--The best account I can give you of where I am is,
that I expect to reach Leipzic this evening. But it will still be
some time ere I reach Antwerp, and you may as well write me
somewhat. If any letters I get there prompt me to return