country, and regain the repose of mind, the calmness of heart, which
has been lost in that great Babel. I must go violeting--it is a
necessity--and I must go alone: the sound of a voice, even my
Lizzy's, the touch of Mayflower's head, even the bounding of her
elastic foot, would disturb the serenity of feeling which I am
trying to recover. I shall go quite alone, with my little basket,
twisted like a bee-hive, which I love so well, because SHE gave it
to me, and kept sacred to violets and to those whom I love; and I
shall get out of the high-road the moment I can. I would not meet
any one just now, even of those whom I best like to meet.

Ha!--Is not that group--a gentleman on a blood-horse, a lady keeping
pace with him so gracefully and easily--see how prettily her veil
waves in the wind created by her own rapid motion!--and that gay,
gallant boy, on the gallant white Arabian, curveting at their side,
but ready to spring before them every instant--is not that
chivalrous-looking party Mr. and Mrs. M. and dear R? No! the
servant is in a different livery. It is some of the ducal family,
and one of their young Etonians. I may go on. I shall meet no one
now; for I have fairly left the road, and am crossing the lea by one
of those wandering paths, amidst the gorse, and the heath, and the
low broom, which the sheep and lambs have made--a path turfy,
elastic, thymy, and sweet, even at this season.

We have the good fortune to live in an unenclosed parish, and may
thank the wise obstinacy of two or three sturdy farmers, and the
lucky unpopularity of a ranting madcap lord of the manor, for
preserving the delicious green patches, the islets of wilderness
amidst cultivation, which form, perhaps, the peculiar beauty of
English scenery. The common that I am passing now--the lea, as it