ntually
became a treasured possession of the Romany Rye.

Rude as some of these characteristics may appear, we are left in no
manner of doubt as to the essential nobility, befitting her name, of Miss
Berners--her character and bearing. Her carriage, especially of the neck
and shoulders, reminded the postilion of the Marchioness of ---; and he
took her unhesitatingly for a young lady of high rank and distinction,
who had temporarily left her friends, and was travelling in the direction
of Gretna Green with the fortunate Rye. The word-master, in disabusing
the postilion of this idea, gave utterance to the conviction that he
might search the world in vain for a nature more heroic and devoted.

Like a lady of the highest quality, the beauteous queen of the dingle was
subject to the vapours and to occasional fits of inexplicable weeping;
but as a general rule she shared with Borrow himself a proud contempt for
that mad puppy gentility, and her predominant characteristic, like his,
was the simplicity that puzzled by reason of its directness and its
purity. {52} That these qualities were not unaccompanied by a
considerable amount of hauteur, is shown by her uncompromising rejection
of the ceremonial advances made to her by that accomplished courtier, the
man in black.

"Lovely virgin," said he, with a graceful bow and stretching out his
hand, "allow me to salute your fingers."

"I am not in the habit of shaking hands with strangers," said Belle.

"I did not presume to request to shake hands with you," said the man
in black. "I merely wished to be permitted to salute with my lips the
extremities of your two forefingers."

"I never permit anything of the kind," said Belle. "I do not approve
of such unmanly ways."

His importunity is rebuked more forcibly upon another occasion, when the
nymph bids the priest with asperity to "hold his mumping gibberish."

The striking beauty of Belle, especially that of her blue eyes and flaxen
hair, and the impressiveness of her demeanour, calm and proud, which
compelled the similitude to a serious and queenly heroine, such as 'Queen
Theresa of Hungary, or Brynhilda, the Valkyrie, the beloved of Sigurd,
the serpent-killer,' is emphasised by the contrast drawn between her and
the handsome brunette Mrs. Petulengro, who is for the nonce subjugated by
Isopel's beauty, and craves the privilege of acting as her tire-woman.

Alas, as is so often the case in life, L