"Polly Dill Takes Leave of Conyers" by "Phiz," eighth illustration for Charles Lever's "Barrington" (May 1862)

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Polly Dill Takes Leave of Conyers

Phiz (Hablot K. Browne)

steel engraving

10.5 cm high by 9.5 cm wide (4 ⅛ by 3 ⅝ inches), vignetted

May 1862

Eighth serial illustration for Charles Lever's Barrington (Chapter XIV), p. 114.

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Scanned image and text by Philip V. Allingham.

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Passage Illustrated: Polly's Mock Humility Betokens Haughtiness

“I must go and say good-bye to Miss Barrington,” said Polly, rising. “I hope that this rustling finery will impart some dignity to my demeanor.” And drawing wide the massive folds, she made a very deep courtesy, throwing back her head haughtily as she resumed her height in admirable imitation of a bygone school of manners.

“Very well, — very well, indeed! Quite as like what it is meant for as is Miss Polly Dill for the station she counterfeits!” said Miss Dinah, as, throwing wide the door, she stood before them.

“I am overwhelmed by your flattery, madam,” said Polly, who, though very red, lost none of her self-possession; “but I feel that, like the traveller who tried on Charlemagne's armour, I am far more equal to combat in my every-day clothes.” [Chapter XIV, "Barrington's Ford," 41]

Commentary

Dinah does not approve of Polly's mock humility (in response to Fred's favouring her brother with his benevolent interest) towards Fred as expressed in an exaggerated bow: "'I hope that this rustling finery will impart some dignity to my demeanour.' And drawing wide the massive folds, she made a very deep curtsey, throwing back her head haughtily as she resumed her height in admirable imitation of a bygone school of manners" (4). Surprisingly, for a mere country doctor's daughter she manages to dress in the latest fashion and express her wit as cogently as the greatest heiress in London.

Related Material

Bibliography

Lester, Valerie Browne. Phiz: The Man Who Drew Dickens. London: Chatto and Windus, 2004.

Lever, Charles. Barrington; Tales of the Trains. Illustrated by 'Phiz'. Twelve monthly parts. London: Chapman and Hall, 1863.

Steig, Michael. Dickens and Phiz. Bloomington & London: Indiana U. P., 1978.

Sutherland, John A. "Barrington." The Stanford Companion to Victorian Fiction. Stanford, Cal.: Stanford U. P., 1989, rpt. 1990, 48-49.

Created 9 August 2002

Last updated 28 September 2026