and the singularity of her
great position lent a sentimental and poetical charm to her youthful
face and figure.

The serene, serious sweetness of her candid brow and clear soft eyes
gave dignity to the girlish countenance, while the want of height
only added to the effect of extreme youth of the round but slender
person, and gracefully moulded hands and arms. The queen's voice was
exquisite; nor have I ever heard any spoken words more musical in
their gentle distinctness, than the "My Lords and Gentlemen" which
broke the breathless silence of the illustrious assembly, whose gaze
was riveted upon that fair flower of royalty. The enunciation was as
perfect as the intonation was melodious, and I think it is
impossible to hear a more excellent utterance than that of the
queen's English, by the English queen.]

WEDNESDAY, July 26th, 1837.
_Bannisters!_
(Think of that, Master Brook!!)

DEAREST H----,

These overflowing spirits of mine all come of a gallop of fifteen miles
I have been taking with dear Emily, over breezy commons and through
ferny pine-woods, and then coming home and devouring luncheon as fast as
it could be swallowed; and so you get the result of all this physical
excitement in these very animal spirits; and if my letter is "all sound
and fury, signifying nothing," under the circumstances how can I help
it?

That rather ill-conducted person, Ninon de l'Enclos, I believe, said
her soup got into her head; and though "comparisons are odious,"
and I should be loth to suggest any between that wonderful
no-better-than-she-should-be and myself, beyond all doubt my luncheon
has got into my head, though I drank nothing but water with it; but I
rather think violent exercise in the cold air, followed immediately by
eating, will produce a certain amount of intoxication, just as easily as
stimulating drink would. I suppose it is only a question of accelerated
circulation, with a slight tendency of blood to the head.

However that may be, I wish you would speak to Emily (you needn't bawl,
though you are in Ireland), and tell her to hold her tongue and not
disturb me. She is profanely laughing at a sermon of Dr. South's, and
interrupting me in this serious letter to you with absurd questions
about such nonsense as Life, Death, and Immortality. I can't ge