The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-28 00:00:00

LITEPATUBP,

The Jealous: Wife. By Miss Pardoe, author !
the "Life of M2ria de Medicis,'! &c. 3 vols. i

Hurst and Black et t.

These volumes cannot fail to be attractive from
their author's well-known force of description and
knowledge of life and character. Her powers are
well displayed here in many striking characters,
whose breadth of outline and vivid delineation
arrest the attention and awaken interest. Sir
Jasper Trevanion -cc the man of marble," as he is
aptly styled,s an embodifnent of stiff, unbend-
ing reserve and haughtiness. His nephew, Hubert,
who had inherited in a large degree the family
quality, was rendered more cold and impassible
yet by the peculiar circumstances of "his early
life and the bent of his education. Years of
struggle in an uncongenialemployment, suited nei-
ther to his rank nor fancy, in an isolated position as
regards domestic and friendly ties, did their work;
and it was a question if he was not,- when
the story opens, more hard and unbending
than his adamantine uncle- had been. This pecu-
liar temperament had been transmitted to his only
child, and the heroine presented a dangerous na-
ture for the impersonation of a "Jealous Wife."
She was not one who lightly offended, was
easily
appeased—a word, a look, or a fancy was enough
to plunge her into the full vortex of that most de-
grading of all passion, but not so readily did she
emerge therefrom. " Facilis descensus Averni"
might well have been her epitome, for she had en-
tered on that course from which there is no return.
The ties she had dissolved could not be rejoined,
and the spell had been broken' that no endeavours
could weave anew. The authoress has admirably
arranged the plot—it is plain and straightforward.
Ida commenced with misgivings,, proceeded with
doubts, and ended with suspicion. Then the de-
mon of jealousy was triumphant in her nature—
that fell spirit who, once raised, it is so nearly im-
possible to quell. The gentle and innocent dispo-
sition of Edith Malcolm could never fathom the
dark mysteries and deep feelings of Ida Treva-
nion, while her mother was too noble and
lofty-minded herself to comprehend the pro-
bability of such treachernos surmises as those,
which heaped coals of fire upon the brain of the
self-tormenting Ida. The unfortunate young hus-
band, Sydney Elphinstone, was hardly able to
realise the possibility of such ideas when his wife
at last revealed them to him. Had he possessed
strength and decision of character he might have
had 'a chance of putting down the enemy to their
home and the destroyer to their peace by strong
and
,mi,ghty_Theans. The person to have assimi-
lated with Ida should have been of a higher, not a
lower, grade of disposition. He should have awed
by his consistency and enforced respect by his su-
perior and exalted virtues. The volatile Sydney
knew not the weapons to be used in such a war-
fare as that entered upon by Ida. As he had pre-
viously excited her rage by ill-management, be de-
ferred to it by his instability and indecision. How-
ever, what is great or good in any character will
become apparent some time or other ; and so Syd-
ney had his triumph, when, having borne with Ida
during their poverty, bearing all her petulance and
false accusations, he left her to the enjoyment of
her wealth alone at last. For family considera-
tions her father, the cold Hubert Trevanion, re-
lented, and called her back to the home she had
left and the rank slio bad forfeited. To that home
and.that rank her husband relinquished her. She
had spurned and scorned him in their day of trial
and obscurity, and the olive branch ho would
gladly have seized in adversity was extended in
vain in prosperity. " The Jealous Wife" presents
a masterly sketch of what pride and passion can
effect, and records an instance of the " green-eyed
monster's" workings. It is a composition that
displays for its subject human nature under the in-
fluence of its most powerful incentives. The pas-
sion that here 'prevails is described in " The Cax-
tons " as " the love that gives fire to the song and
tragedy to the stage ;!' and those who desiderate
the striking and vigorous style of romance will
appreciate the ability that has created this work.