. George, in which
the court, when at Windsor, attend service. Here, a place is
partitioned off for the royal family, something like a box at the
opera, only enclosed by a fine lattice work screen, to prevent the
people, I suppose, from gazing at the Queen and Prince Albert, when
they should be minding their devotions.

From the chapel we went to the royal stables, where we were shown some
very fine horses and elegant equipages. There were the Queen's
carriages of all varieties, and little pony phaetons, and Canadian
sleighs and Russian sledges; and there were her carriage and riding
horses, and Prince Albert's hunters, and the children's ponies. The
stables are handsome and comfortable buildings, and are kept with the
utmost care, order, and neatness. Thousands of poor people might envy
the high-blooded brutes such a home as this. Some of the horses were
very beautiful and graceful animals, and all were groomed so carefully
it seemed no one hair was longer than the others. In almost every
stall was a sleek, lazy, high-bred looking cat, either perched upon the
back of the horse, dozing and blinking, or curled up in the straw at
his feet, fast asleep. The grooms told us that the horses were really
very fond of their feline companions, and treated them tenderly and
protectingly.

From the castle we drove to the delightful pleasure-grounds of Virginia
Water. Passing up a magnificent avenue, more than three miles long, we
came to a height, on which stands a large equestrian statue of George
III., in the dress of an ancient Roman. This is the king we rebelled
against, you know. He was a domineering, stubborn, crack-brained old
gentleman, but, for all that, honest and good-humored. I should not
think him particularly like an ancient Roman, except in his obstinacy.

Next we came to Virginia Water, which is just the loveliest place I
ever saw. Here are luxuriant plantations and gardens, summer-houses,
temples, fountains, cascades, woods, walks, and drives. Here is a
shining, winding little lake, with fairy-like pleasure-boats upon it,
and graceful swans slowly sailing over the clear, blue waves, and
looking like the reflection of small white clouds, floating in the sky
above.

Virginia Water is the play-ground of royalty. The celebrated Duke of
Cumberland, George IV., and William IV., amused themselves here a great
deal, at an enormous and very foolish expense, sometimes. The duke
built an absurd Chinese tem