"Polly Dill," by "Phiz" (Illustration for Charles Lever's "Barrington")

Polly Dill

Phiz (Hablot K. Browne)

1863

Charles Lever's Barrington (Chapter VI), p. 50

Image scan and text by Philip V. Allingham.

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Commentary

Self-assured and highly competent, Polly seems to have avoided her father's flummery and her brother's lassitude — indeed, one might argue that Lever has taken a proto-feminist stance in his characterisation of the young woman since it is clearly she and not her brother who should qualify as a physician. Here, despite the disadvantage of riding side-saddle, she engages enthusiastically in the local hunt; having taken out the post and rail of a neighbour's fence, she waves her handkerchief to indicate to a more cautious (male) rider named Ambrose Bushe who was afraid of "staking" his mount that the ground was good. Phiz was from his earliest efforts a good hand at drawing horses.

Last modified August 2002