cope of imagination： a glimpse of sea between two rocks； the rising moon； and a ship crossing its disk； a group of reeds and water…flags； and a naiad’s head； crowned with lotus…flowers； rising out of them； an elf sitting in a hedge…sparrow’s nest； under a wreath of hawthorn… bloom
One morning I fell to sketching a face： what sort of a face it was to be； I did not care or know。 I took a soft black pencil； gave it a broad point； and worked away。 Soon I had traced on the paper a broad and prominent forehead and a square lower outline of visage： that contour gave me pleasure； my fingers proceeded actively to fill it with features。 Strongly…marked horizontal eyebrows must be traced under that brow； then followed； naturally； a well…defined nose； with a straight ridge and full nostrils； then a flexible… looking mouth； by no means narrow； then a firm chin； with a decided cleft down the middle of it： of course； some black whiskers were wanted； and some jetty hair； tufted on the temples； and waved above the forehead。 Now for the eyes： I had left them to the last； because they required the most careful working。 I drew them large； I shaped them well： the eyelashes I traced long and sombre； the irids lustrous and large。 “Good！ but not quite the thing；” I thought； as I surveyed the effect： “they want more force and spirit；” and I wrought the shades blacker； that the lights might flash more brilliantly—a happy touch or two secured success。 There； I had a friend’s face under my gaze； and what did it signify that those young ladies turned their backs on me？ I looked at it； I smiled at the speaking likeness： I was absorbed and content。
“Is that a portrait of some one you know？” asked Eliza； who had approached me unnoticed。 I responded that it was merely a fancy head； and hu