ed in a nice open Barouche Landau on Thursday, the
20th. We again crossed the Field of Waterloo and proceeded towards
Genappes, a road along which we jogged merrily and peaceably, but which
had last year on this same day been one continued scene of carnage and
confusion: Prussians cutting off French heads, arms and legs by
hundreds; Englishmen in the rear going in chase, cheering the Prussians
and urging them in pursuit; the French, exhausted with fatigue and
vexation, making off in all directions with the utmost speed.

At Genappes we changed horses in the very courtyard where Napoleon's
carriage was taken ... and were shown the spot where the Brunswick
Hussars cut down the French General as a retaliation for the life of the
Duke. The Postmaster told us what he could, which was not much; the only
curious part was that in his narrative he never called the Highland
Regiments "Les Ecossais," but "Les Sans Culottes." The setting sun found
us all covered with dust, rather tired and very hungry, and driving up,
with some misgivings from what we had heard and from what we saw, to our
Inn at Charleroi. "This is an abominable-looking house," said Donald.
"Oh, jump out before we drive in and ask what we can get to eat." "Well,
Donald, what success?" we all cried like young birds upon the return of
the old one to the gaping, craving mouths in their nest. "The Landlady
says she has nothing at all in the house, but if you will come in thinks
something may be killed which will suffice for supper." This was a bad
prospect....

[Illustration: WATERLOO.

_To face p. 270._]

We three went on in quest of better accommodation, and drove first to
enquire at the Post House. The first question the Postmaster asked was,
What could induce us to come to a place from which there was no exit? We
told him we wished to go to Maubeuge. Had you seen his shoulders elevate
themselves above his ears. "To Maubeuge! Why, it is utterly impossible."
"Well, then," we said, "to Mons." "Le chemin est execrable." "To
Phillippe ville." "Encore plus mauvais." As a proof of which he told us
that a government courier had two days before insisted upon being
forwarded thither, that they had sent him off at 2 in the morning, to
insure him time before daylight, that at 9 in the morning he was brought
back, having proceeded with the utmost difficulty 2 leagues, and then
being deposited in a rut by the fracture of his carriage. After a great
deal of pro and con it wa