growling, from the depth of his kennel, erecting his tail, and
shaking his long chain. May's attention was instantly diverted from
the sow to this new playmate, friend or foe, she cared not which;
and he of the kennel, seeing his charge unhurt, and out of danger,
was at leisure to observe the charms of his fair enemy, as she
frolicked round him, always beyond the reach of his chain, yet
always, with the natural instinctive coquetry of her sex, alluring
him to the pursuit which she knew to be vain. I never saw a
prettier flirtation. At last the noble animal, wearied out, retired
to the inmost recesses of his habitation, and would not even
approach her when she stood right before the entrance. 'You are
properly served, May. Come along, Lizzy. Across this wheatfield,
and now over the gate. Stop! let me lift you down. No jumping, no
breaking of necks, Lizzy!' And here we are in the meadows, and out
of the world. Robinson Crusoe, in his lonely island, had scarcely a
more complete, or a more beautiful solitude.

These meadows consist of a double row of small enclosures of rich
grass-land, a mile or two in length, sloping down from high arable
grounds on either side, to a little nameless brook that winds
between them with a course which, in its infinite variety,
clearness, and rapidity, seems to emulate the bold rivers of the
north, of whom, far more than of our lazy southern streams, our
rivulet presents a miniature likeness. Never was water more
exquisitely tricksy:--now darting over the bright pebbles, sparkling
and flashing in the light with a bubbling music, as sweet and wild
as the song of the woodlark; now stretching quietly along, giving
back the rich tufts of the golden marsh-marigolds which grow on its
margin; now sweeping round a fine reach of green grass, rising
steeply into a high mound, a mimic promontory, whilst the other side