him.  In a word, the two worthies from the Hall were completely dumbfounded, and this, too, in the presence of several of Master Simon’s staunch admirers, who had always looked up to him as infallible.  I do not know how he and the general would have managed to draw their forces decently from the field, had there not been a match at grinning through a horse-collar announced, whereupon the radical retired with great expression of contempt, and as soon as his back was turned, the argument was carried against him all hollow.

[Illustration:  The General Nonplussed]

“Did you ever hear such a pack of stuff, general?” said Master Simon; “there’s no talking with one of these chaps when he once gets that confounded Cobbett in his head.”

“S’blood, sir!” said the general, wiping his forehead, “such fellows ought all to be transported!”

In the latter part of the day the ladies from the Hall paid a visit to the green.  The fair Julia made her appearance, leaning on her lover’s arm, and looking extremely pale and interesting.  As she is a great favourite in the village, where she has been known from childhood, and as her late accident had been much talked about, the sight of her caused very manifest delight, and some of the old women of the village blessed her sweet face as she passed.

While they were walking about, I noticed the schoolmaster in earnest conversation with the young girl that represented the Queen of May, evidently endeavouring to spirit her up to some formidable undertaking.  At length, as the party from the Hall approached her bower, she came forth, faltering at every step, until she reached the spot where the fair Julia stood between her lover and Lady Lillycraft.  The little Queen then took the chaplet of flowers from her head, and attempted to put it on that of the bride elect; but the confusion of both was so great, that the wreath would have fallen to the ground had not the officer caught it, and, laughing, placed it upon the blushing brows of his mistress.  There was something charming in the very embarrassment of these two young creatures, both so beautiful, yet so different in their kinds of beauty.  Master Simon told me, afterwards, that the Queen of May was to have spoken a few verses which the schoolmaster had written for her; but that she had neither wit to understand, nor memory to recollect them.  “Besides,” added he, “between you and I, she murders the king’s English abominably; so she has acted the part of a wise woman in holding her tongue, and trusting to her pretty face.”

[Illustration:  May Queen and Bride-Elect]

Among the other characters from the Hall was Mrs. Hannah, my Lady Lillycraft’s gentlewoman:  to my surprise she was escorted by old Christy the huntsman, and followed by his ghost of a greyhound; but I find they are very old acquaintances, being drawn together from some sympathy of disposition.  Mrs. Hannah moved about with starched dignity among the rustics, who drew back from her with more awe than they did from her mistress.  Her mouth seemed shut as with a clasp; excepting that I now and then heard the word “fellows!” escape from between her lips, as she got accidentally jostled in the crowd.