Mary knew that she was handsome, and never attempted to conceal from
others her consciousness of the fact; and, as long as her exterior
elicited applause and admiration from the rude clowns who surrounded
her, she cared not for those minor graces of voice and manner which
render beauty so captivating to the refined and well-educated of the
other sex.
In the harvest-field she was always the foremost in the band of reapers;
dressed in her tight green-cloth boddice, clean white apron, red stuff
petticoat, and neatly blacked shoes; her beautiful features shaded by
her large, coarse, flat, straw hat, put knowingly to one side, more
fully to display the luxuriant auburn tresses, of the sunniest hue, that
waved profusely in rich natural curls round her face and neck. In the
hay-field you passed her, with the rake across her shoulder, and turned
in surprise to look at the fair creature, who whistled to her dog, sang
snatches of profane songs, and hallooed to the men in the same breath.
In the evening you met her bringing home her cows from the marshes,
mounted upon her father's grey riding horse; keeping her seat with as
much ease and spirit, although destitute of a side-saddle, as the most
accomplished female equestrian in St. James's Park; and when his
services were no longer required by our young Amazon, she rubbed down
her horse, and turned him adrift with her own hands into the paddock.
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