of a stranger's visit, when, leaving the vicinity of the park, he
rolled through a clean and well-paved street, and stopped at the
door of a well-frequented inn.

Before ordering horses, to proceed on his journey, General Browne
made inquiries concerning the proprietor of the chateau which had
so attracted his admiration, and was equally surprised and
pleased at hearing in reply a nobleman named, whom we shall call
Lord Woodville. How fortunate! Much of Browne's early
recollections, both at school and at college, had been connected
with young Woodville, whom, by a few questions, he now
ascertained to be the same with the owner of this fair domain.
He had been raised to the peerage by the decease of his father a
few months before, and, as the General learned from the landlord,
the term of mourning being ended, was now taking possession of
his paternal estate in the jovial season of merry, autumn,
accompanied by a select party of friends, to enjoy the sports of
a country famous for game.

This was delightful news to our traveller. Frank Woodville had
been Richard Browne's fag at Eton, and his chosen intimate at
Christ Church; their pleasures and their tasks had been the same;
and the honest soldier's heart warmed to find his early friend in
possession of so delightful a residence, and of an estate, as the
landlord assured him with a nod and a wink, fully adequate to
maintain and add to his dignity. Nothing was more natural than
that the traveller should suspend a journey, which there was
nothing to render hurried, to pay a visit to an old friend under
such agreeable circumstances.