our village-第19部分
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est dismay。 Of all animals； next to a cat； a greyhound dreads rain。 She might have escaped it； her light feet would have borne her home long before the shower； but May is too faithful for that； too true a comrade； understands too well the laws of good…fellowship； so she waited for us。 She did； to be sure； gallop on before； and then stop and look back； and beckon； as it were； with some scorn in her black eyes at the slowness of our progress。 We in the meanwhile got on as fast as we could； encouraging and reproaching each other。 'Faster； my Lizzy！ Oh； what a bad runner！''Faster； faster！ Oh； what a bad runner！' echoed my saucebox。 'You are so fat； Lizzy； you make no way！''Ah！ who else is fat？' retorted the darling。 Certainly her mother is right； I do spoil that child。
By this time we were thoroughly soaked； all three。 It was a pelting shower； that drove through our thin summer clothing and poor May's short glossy coat in a moment。 And then； when we were wet to the skin； the sun came out； actually the sun； as if to laugh at our plight； and then； more provoking still； when the sun was shining； and the shower over； came a maid and a boy to look after us； loaded with cloaks and umbrellas enough to fence us against a whole day's rain。 Never mind！ on we go； faster and faster； Lizzy obliged to be most ignobly carried； having had the misfortune to lose a shoe in the mud； which we left the boy to look after。
Here we are at homedripping； but glowing and laughing； and bearing our calamity most manfully。 May； a dog of excellent sense； went instantly to bed in the stable； and is at this moment over head and ears in straw； Lizzy is gone to bed too； coaxed into that wise measure by a promise of tea and toast； and of not going home till to…morrow； and the story of Little Red Riding Hood； and I am enjoying the luxury of dry clothing by a good fire。 Really getting wet through now and then is no bad thing； finery apart； for one should not like spoiling a new pelisse； or a handsome plume； but when there is nothing in question but a white gown and a straw bonnet； as was the case to…day； it is rather pleasant than not。 The little chill refreshes； and our enjoyment of the subsequent warmth and dryness is positive and absolute。 Besides； the stimulus and exertion do good to the mind as well as body。 How melancholy I was all the morning！ how cheerful I am now！ Nothing like a shower…bath… …a real shower…bath； such as Lizzy and May and I have undergone； to cure low spirits。 Try it； my dear readers； if ever ye be nervousI will answer for its success。
THE OLD HOUSE AT ABERLEIGH。
June 25th。What a glowing glorious day！ Summer in its richest prime； noon in its most sparkling brightness； little white clouds dappling the deep blue sky； and the sun； now partially veiled； and now bursting through them with an intensity of light！ It would not do to walk to…day； professedly to walk；we should be frightened at the very sound！ and yet it is probable that we may be beguiled into a pretty long stroll before we return home。 We are going to drive to the old house at Aberleigh； to spend the morning under the shade of those balmy firs； and amongst those luxuriant rose trees； and by the side of that brimming Loddon river。 'Do not expect us before six o'clock；' said I； as I left the house； 'Six at soonest！' added my charming companion； and off we drove in our little pony chaise； drawn by our old mare； and with the good humoured urchin； Henry's successor； a sort of younger Scrub； who takes care of horse and chaise； and cow and garden； for our charioteer。
My comrade in this homely equipage was a young lady of high family and higher endowments； to whom the novelty of the thing； and her own naturalness of character and simplicity of taste； gave an unspeakable enjoyment。 She danced the little chaise up and down as she got into it； and laughed for very glee like a child； Lizzy herself could not have been more delighted。 She praised the horse and the driver； and the roads and the scenery； and gave herself fully up to the enchantment of a rural excursion in the sweetest weather of this sweet season。 I enjoyed all this too； for the road was pleasant to every sense； winding through narrow lanes； under high elms； and between hedges garlanded with woodbine and rose trees； whilst the air was scented with the delicious fragrance of blossomed beans。 I enjoyed it all；but； I believe； my principal pleasure was derived from my companion herself。
Emily I。 is a person whom it is a privilege to know。 She is quite like a creation of the older poets； and might pass for one of Shakspeare's or Fletcher's women stepped into life； just as tender； as playful； as gentle； and as kind。 She is clever too； and has all the knowledge and accomplishments that a carefully…conducted education； acting on a mind of singular clearness and ductility； matured and improved by the very best company； can bestow。 But one never thinks of her acquirements。 It is the charming artless character； the bewitching sweetness of manner； the real and universal sympathy； the quick taste and the ardent feeling； that one loves in Emily。 She is Irish by birth； and has in perfection the melting voice and soft caressing accent by which her fair countrywomen are distinguished。 Moreover she is prettyI think her beautiful； and so do all who have heard as well as seen her；but pretty； very pretty； all the world must confess； and perhaps that is a distinction more enviable； because less envied； than the 'palmy state' of beauty。 Her prettiness is of the prettiest kindthat of which the chief character is youthfulness。 A short but pleasing figure； all grace and symmetry； a fair blooming face； beaming with intelligence and good…humour； the prettiest little feet and the whitest hands in the world；such is Emily I。
She resides with her maternal grandmother； a venerable old lady； slightly shaken with the palsy； and when together （and they are so fondly attached to each other that they are seldom parted）； it is one of the loveliest combinations of youth and age ever witnessed。 There is no seeing them without feeling an increase of respect and affection for both grandmother and granddaughteralways one of the tenderest and most beautiful of natural connectionsas Richardson knew when he made such exquisite use of it in his matchless book。 I fancy that grandmamma Shirley must have been just such another venerable lady as Mrs。 S。； and our sweet EmilyOh no！ Harriet Byron is not half good enough for her！ There is nothing like her in the whole seven volumes。
But here we are at the bridge！ Here we must alight！ 'This is the Loddon； Emily。 Is it not a beautiful river？ rising level with its banks； so clear； and smooth； and peaceful； giving back the verdant landscape and the bright blue sky； and bearing on its pellucid stream the snowy water…lily； the purest of flowers； which sits enthroned on its own cool leaves； looking chastity itself； like the lady in Comus。 That queenly flower becomes the water； and so do the stately swans who are sailing so majestically down the stream； like those who
〃'On St。 Mary's lake Float double； swan and shadow。〃
We must dismount here； and leave Richard to take care of our equipage under the shade of these trees； whilst we walk up to the house：See； there it is！ We must cross this stile； there is no other way now。'
And crossing the stile we were immediately in what had been a drive round a spacious park； and still retained something of the character； though the park itself had long been broken into arable fields；and in full view of the Great House； a beautiful structure of James the First's time； whose glassless windows and dilapidated doors form a melancholy contrast with the strength and entireness of the rich and massive front。
The story of that ruinfor such it isis always to me singularly affecting。 It is that of the decay of an ancient and distinguished family； gradually reduced from the highest wealth and station to actual poverty。 The house and park； and a small estate around it； were entailed on a distant cousin； and could not be alienated； and the late owner； the last of his name and lineage； after long struggling with debt and difficulty； farming his own lands； and clinging to his magnificent home with a love of place almost as tenacious as that of the younger Foscari； was at last forced to abandon it； retired to a paltry lodging in a paltry town； and died there about twenty years ago； broken…hearted。 His successor； bound by no ties of association to the spot； and rightly judging the residence to be much too large for the diminished estate； immediately sold the superb fixtures； and would have entirely taken down the house； if； on making the attempt； the masonry had not been found so solid that the materials were not worth the labour。 A great part； however； of one side is laid open； and the splendid chambers； with their carving and gilding； are exposed to the wind and rainsad memorials of past grandeur！ The grounds have been left in a merciful neglect； the park； indeed； is broken up； the lawn mown twice a year like a common hayfield； the grotto mouldering into ruin； and the fishponds choked with rushes and aquatic plants； but the shrubs and flowering trees are undestroyed； and have grown into a magnificence of size and wildness of beauty； such as we may imagine them to attain in their native forests。 Nothing can exceed their luxuriance； especially in the spring； when the lilac； and laburnum； and double…cherry put forth their gorgeous blossoms。 There is a sweet sadness in the sight of such floweriness amidst such desolation； it seems the triumph of nature over the destructive power of man。 The whole place； in that season more particularly； is full of a soft and soothing melancholy； reminding me； I scarcely know why； of some of the descriptions of natural scenery in the novels of Charlotte Smith； which I read when a girl； and which； perhaps； for that reason hang on my memory。
But here we are； in the smooth grassy ride； on the top of a steep turfy slope descending to the river； crowned with enormous firs and limes of equal growth； looking across the winding waters into a sweet peaceful landscape of quiet meadows； shut in by distant woods。 What
