96 Monthly Review of Literature. 



unrighteous deeds of Lady Cornwall and Lady Arlingham are brought to light 

 too late. By the evidence of Lady Arlingham, corroborated by that of a 

 nurse, it appears that she (Lady Arlingham) was the friend and companion of 

 Lady Cornwall, with whom she lived, and that while residing there, Lord 

 Cornwall intrigued with her. The two friends proved enceintes together ; and 

 the only alternative allowed by the marchioness to her fallen friend is condi- 

 tional, namely, that in case of Lady Arlingham's child being a son, and the 

 other a daughter, the one should be substituted for the other, and made heir 

 to the title and entail. Lord Portland is the son of Lady Arlingham ; Alice 

 the rightful heiress of such property as do not descend with the title to the 

 next male heir of the family. Lady Cornwall dies insane : the partner of her 

 guilt repents, and turns with truth from the error of her ways ; and the lady 

 Alice Lindorf, chastened by suffering, becomes the able and willing dispenser 

 of the benefits which it is the privilege of wealth to bestow on the needy. 



Such is the story somewhat prosily told. It is improbable, some say ; but 

 we need only look to the reports of the Appeals Court of the House of Lords, 

 to discover that cases more shocking have occurred among the nobility. 

 Whether the exhibition of moral depravity be promotive of virtue, it is not 

 needful here to decide ; but there is nothing in the tale so horrid that its match 

 has not been and cannot be found in real life.* 



In " The Forsaken" there is much dark and intense passion ; but its expres- 

 sion is confined to those periods of confidential intercourse in which alone it 

 would be allowable. The fault of the book lies not as we think so much 

 in the improbability of the events and the unnatural grouping of horrors in 

 the story, as in the awkward and unskilful way in which the frame- work has 

 been put together. If more space had been taken for clearly working out the 

 more obscure parts of the tale, a work would have been introduced, perhaps 

 not more indicative of the writer's talents, but at any rate more pleasing to 

 the public. 



After so long a notice, we can hardly be expected to give an extract ; but 

 we subjoin one to prove that the author is not destitute of comic talent. The 

 Dudleys are very well drawn, perhaps from originals. The dinner given to 

 Portland is far from badly told. 



"Dinner was announced, and for the first time Lord Portland had the 

 honour of being presented to Mrs. Dudley, who, with her face inflamed from 

 the kitchen-fire, where she had been stationed to inspect the progress of 

 dinner, her person decorated in bright scarlet satin, and her head enveloped 

 in a bag- wig crowned with a yellow hat and white feathers, welcomed the young 

 nobleman, if not with elegance, at least with warmth. She was seated at the 

 head of her table on the entrance of her guests, as she did not wish to entrust 

 Patrick or Peg with the adjustment of the dishes, and had remained watching 

 and directing, as also for the purpose of cooling herself, as the day had been 

 most excessively warm and close, and the kitchen broiling, from the numerous 

 fires in Mr. Dudley's improved self-cooking kitchen-range. 



" ' Glad, my lord, to see your lordship at Dudley Grove,' said the lady. 

 * What will you have, white or brown soup, my lord ?' 



"'Neither, thank you, ma'am.' 



* It has been said by a respectable reviewer that the exhibition of strong passion should 

 be confined to the characters of humble life, because the wheels of life are too well oiled in 

 a high state of civilization, to admit of the burning feelings of Othello or of Lear. It 

 may be that the polish of society will moderate the expression of the passions; but cer- 

 tainly, if ample scope and room enough be given for their development, if the stirring 

 events that swell the heart and agitate its latent emotions occur, no trammels of society 

 will curb the wildest extravagance of passion. If such a doctrine were true, tragedy 

 must resign her gorgeous state, and be banished to the cottages of the poor and unedu- 

 cated. Away with the silly notion ! It is the semblance, the pretended experience of 

 an unreal emotion, that constitutes melo-drama. The really felt passions of love, 

 revenge, or pity, must ever form the essence of tragedy. 



