our village-第9部分
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； and make caps and gowns for their mammas； parcel schoolmistress； parcel mantua…maker。 I believe they find adorning the body a more profitable vocation than adorning the mind。
Divided from the shop by a narrow yard； and opposite the shoemaker's； is a habitation of whose inmates I shall say nothing。 A cottagenoa miniature house； with many additions； little odds and ends of places； pantries； and what not； all angles； and of a charming in…and…outness； a little bricked court before one half； and a little flower…yard before the other； the walls； old and weather…stained； covered with hollyhocks； roses； honeysuckles； and a great apricot…tree； the casements full of geraniums （ah！ there is our superb white cat peeping out from among them）； the closets （our landlord has the assurance to call them rooms） full of contrivances and corner…cupboards； and the little garden behind full of common flowers； tulips； pinks； larkspurs； peonies； stocks； and carnations； with an arbour of privet； not unlike a sentry…box； where one lives in a delicious green light； and looks out on the gayest of all gay flower…beds。 That house was built on purpose to show in what an exceeding small compass comfort may be packed。 Well； I will loiter there no longer。
The next tenement is a place of importance； the Rose Inn： a white…washed building； retired from the road behind its fine swinging sign； with a little bow…window room coming out on one side； and forming； with our stable on the other； a sort of open square； which is the constant resort of carts； waggons； and return chaises。 There are two carts there now； and mine host is serving them with beer in his eternal red waistcoat。 He is a thriving man and a portly； as his waistcoat attests； which has been twice let out within this twelvemonth。 Our landlord has a stirring wife； a hopeful son； and a daughter； the belle of the village； not so pretty as the fair nymph of the shoe…shop； and far less elegant； but ten times as fine； all curl…papers in the morning； like a porcupine； all curls in the afternoon； like a poodle； with more flounces than curl…papers； and more lovers than curls。 Miss Phoebe is fitter for town than country； and to do her justice； she has a consciousness of that fitness； and turns her steps townward as often as she can。 She is gone to B to…day with her last and principal lover； a recruiting sergeanta man as tall as Sergeant Kite； and as impudent。 Some day or other he will carry off Miss Phoebe。
In a line with the bow…window room is a low garden…wall； belonging to a house under repair：the white house opposite the collar…maker's shop； with four lime…trees before it； and a waggon…load of bricks at the door。 That house is the plaything of a wealthy； well…meaning； whimsical person who lives about a mile off。 He has a passion for brick and mortar； and； being too wise to meddle with his own residence； diverts himself with altering and re…altering； improving and re…improving； doing and undoing here。 It is a perfect Penelope's web。 Carpenters and bricklayers have been at work for these eighteen months； and yet I sometimes stand and wonder whether anything has really been done。 One exploit in last June was； however； by no means equivocal。 Our good neighbour fancied that the limes shaded the rooms； and made them dark （there was not a creature in the house but the workmen）； so he had all the leaves stripped from every tree。 There they stood； poor miserable skeletons； as bare as Christmas under the glowing midsummer sun。 Nature revenged herself； in her own sweet and gracious manner； fresh leaves sprang out； and at nearly Christmas the foliage was as brilliant as when the outrage was committed。
Next door lives a carpenter； 'famed ten miles round； and worthy all his fame；'few cabinet…makers surpass him； with his excellent wife； and their little daughter Lizzy； the plaything and queen of the village； a child three years old according to the register； but six in size and strength and intellect； in power and in self…will。 She manages everybody in the place； her schoolmistress included； turns the wheeler's children out of their own little cart； and makes them draw her； seduces cakes and lollypops from the very shop window； makes the lazy carry her； the silent talk to her； the grave romp with her； does anything she pleases； is absolutely irresistible。 Her chief attraction lies in her exceeding power of loving； and her firm reliance on the love and indulgence of others。 How impossible it would be to disappoint the dear little girl when she runs to meet you； slides her pretty hand into yours； looks up gladly in your face； and says 'Come！' You must go： you cannot help it。 Another part of her charm is her singular beauty。 Together with a good deal 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 lodgingsapartments 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 edifyinga decorum； a gravity； a solemn politeness。 Oh； to see the worthy wheeler carry the gown after his lodger on a Sunday； nicely pinned up in his wife's best handkerchief！or to hear him rebuke a squalling child or a squabbling woman！ The curate is nothing to him。 He is fit to be perpetual churchwarden。
We must now cross the lane into the shady rope…walk。 That pretty white cottage opposite； which stands straggling at the end of the village in a garden full of flowers； belongs to our mason； the shortest of men； and his handsome； tall wife： he； a dwarf； with the voice of a giant； one starts when he begins to talk as if he were shouting through a speaking trumpet； she； the sister； daughter； and grand…daughter； of a long line of gardeners； and no contemptible one herself。 It is very magnanimous in me not to hate her； for she beats me in my own way； in chrysanthemums； and dahlias； and the like gauds。 Her plants are sure to live； mine have a sad trick of dying； perhaps because I love them； 'not wisely； but too well；' and kill them with over…kindness。 Half…way up the hill is another detached cottage； the residence of an officer； and his beautiful family。 That eldest boy； who is hanging over the gate； and looking with such intense childish admiration at my Lizzy； might be a model for a Cupid。
How pleasantly the road winds up the hill； with its broad green borders and hedgerows so thickly timbered！ How finely the evening sun falls on that sandy excavated bank； and touches the farmhouse on the top of the eminence！ and how clearly defined and relieved is the figure of the man who is just coming down！ It is poor John Evans； the gardeneran excellent gardener till about ten years ago； when he lost his wife； and became insane。 He was sent to St。 Luke's； and dismissed as cured； but his power was gone and his strength； he could no longer manage a garden； nor submit to the restraint； nor encounter the fatigue of regular employment： so he retreated to the workhouse； the pensioner and factotum of the village； amongst whom he divides his services。 His mind often wanders； intent on some fantastic and impracticable plan； and lost to present objects； but he is perfectly harmless； and full of a childlike simplicity； a smiling contentedness； a most touching gratitude。 Every one is kind to John Evans； for there is that about him which must be loved； and his unprotectedness； his utter defencelessness； have an irresistible claim on every better feeling。 I know nobody who inspires so deep and tender a pity； he improves all around him。 He is useful； too； to the extent of his little power； will do anything； but loves gardening best； and still piques himself on his old arts of pruning fruit…trees； and raising cucumbers。 He is the happiest of men just now； for he has the management of a melon beda melon bed！fie！ What a grand pompous name was that for three melon plants under a hand…light！ John Evans is sure that they will succeed。 We shall see： as the chancellor said； 'I doubt。'
We are now on the very brow of the eminence； close to the Hill…house and its beautiful garden。 On the outer edge of the paling； hanging over the bank that skirts the road； is an old thornsuch a thorn！ The long sprays covered with snowy blossoms； so graceful； so elegant； so lightsome； and yet so rich！ There only wants a pool under the thorn to give a still lovelier reflection； quivering and trembling； like a tuft of feathers； whiter and greener than the life； and more prettily mixed with the bright blue sky。 There should indeed be a pool； but on the dark grass…plat； under the high bank； which is crowned by that magnificent plume； there is something that does almost as well；Lizzy and Mayflower in the mid
