Thanks for the comments. Some interesting points made there. I think its probably right that a figure facing the viewer would get more immediate interest but in this case I wanted the girl to draw the viewer into the picture, down the lane. I never use a genre in the gallery. Always thought that would restrict the audience. May be wrong. Im on a few favourites lists I think, certainly enough to please me. Thats the real accolade, as far as Im concerned. And of course, I should have left her dress off, LOL. In the end, of course, it`s a combination of many things but in this case I just wondered if, as Boomer says, it was a little too "Mary had a little lamb".