We came home at half-past eleven,--the most delightful, most romantic ride and walk I ever had.

I had never been up such a mountain, and then the day was so fine." The Highlanders, too, were such astonishing people.

They "never make difficulties," she noted, "but are cheerful, and happy, and merry, and ready to walk, and run, and do anything." As for Albert he "highly appreciated the good-breeding, simplicity, and intelligence, which make it so pleasant and even instructive to talk to them." "We were always in the habit," wrote Her Majesty, "of conversing with the Highlanders--with whom one comes so much in contact in the Highlands." She loved everything about them--their customs, their dress, their dances, even their musical instruments.

"There were nine pipers at the castle," she wrote after staying with Lord Breadalbane; "sometimes one and sometimes three played.

They always played about breakfast-time, again during the morning, at luncheon, and also whenever we went in and out; again before dinner, and during most of dinner-time.