of the character of Napoleon, she has something of his square,
sturdy, upright form, with the finest limbs in the world, a
complexion purely English, a round laughing face, sunburnt and rosy,
large merry blue eyes, curling brown hair, and a wonderful play of
countenance. She has the imperial attitudes too, and loves to stand
with her hands behind her, or folded over her bosom; and sometimes,
when she has a little touch of shyness, she clasps them together on
the top of her head, pressing down her shining curls, and looking so
exquisitely pretty! Yes, Lizzy is queen of the village! She has
but one rival in her dominions, a certain white greyhound called
Mayflower, much her friend, who resembles her in beauty and
strength, in playfulness, and almost in sagacity, and reigns over
the animal world as she over the human. They are both coming with
me, Lizzy and Lizzy's 'pretty May.' We are now at the end of the
street; a cross-lane, a rope-walk shaded with limes and oaks, and a
cool clear pond overhung with elms, lead us to the bottom of the
hill. There is still one house round the corner, ending in a
picturesque wheeler's shop. The dwelling-house is more ambitious.
Look at the fine flowered window-blinds, the green door with the
brass knocker, and the somewhat prim but very civil person, who is
sending off a labouring man with sirs and curtsies enough for a
prince of the blood. Those are the curate's lodgings--apartments
his landlady would call them; he lives with his own family four
miles off, but once or twice a week he comes to his neat little
parlour to write sermons, to marry, or to bury, as the case may
require. Never were better or kinder people than his host and
hostess; and there is a reflection of clerical importance about them
since their connection with the Church, which is quite edifying--a
decorum, a gravity, a solemn politeness. Oh, to see the worthy
wheeler carry the gown after his lodger on a Sunday, nicely pinned