The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-19 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

John Greswold. By the Author of " PanlFerroll."
Two Vols. Hurst and Blacket.
To turn from the vitiated atmosphere of some
fashionable and suffocating assembly and take a
stroll in the pure air of the country side, and to do
this in company with some clever, pleasant friend,
whose lively gossip will amuse, without exciting,
like the cup that " cheers but not inebriates," will
produce a bracing, pleasurable effect, such as is
experienced by the satiated reader of the unnatural
fictions of the present day, who takes up these vo-
lumes by the author of " Paul Ferroll." The style
is charming, and the perusal of the whole work is
a matter of continued satisfaction ; but as for the
story which it contains it is, in fact, no story at all.
While turning over the pages (as in taking
the stroll above alluded to) the reader is
happily and beneficially employed, but be-
yond the pleasant associations of the hour, no
more lasting effect is produced upon his memory
than might 15e suggested by the most abstract
constitutional. Wilkie Collins, and Miss Brad-
don, the magician and enchantress of modern lite-
rature, implore their critics not to unfold the mys-
teries of their prison-house. We cannot commit a
similar gaucherie in the present instance, for in re-
gard to " John Greswold," as in regard to Canning's
knife-grinder, " story—Lord bless you there is none
to tell!" We leave our hero on his twenty-third
birthday ready to begin the world, having made, as
his brother tells him, two false starts already. Per-
haps on some future occasion his future fortunes may
be recorded, and we shall be right glad to become ac-
quainted with them, for as we have already intimated
we have found John Greswold a very delightful
companion. The only little romance of the story,
and a very pathetic romance it is, is associated with
John's brother, the soldier Robert—who returns
disabled from the Crimea to the overwhelming dis.
may of his young betrothed. Robert at once re
leases her from her engagement, and tenderly re-
garding her as " the widow of his better days,"
enacts towards her the part of truest friend and
brother. The heroine Ruth is so all perfect as to
be removed above the reach of our sympathies SS far
se John Greshold is from the reached of hers. The
following attempted declaration of love presents a
specimen of unparalleled obtuseness on the part of
the lady—perhaps according to the saying that
NONE ARE SO DEAF AS THOSE WHO WILL NOT HEAR.
She turned away, but I would not give up the opening
which chance seemed to have made to obtain for me a por-
tion of her confidence.
" I know not," I said, " whether I clearly understand
you; but this I know, that if it be within the compass of
my will and my power I would give—that is, I would use
all the power I have to be of the least—that is to be of
use."
"Never mind it, however," said Ruth. " Thank you for
your good wishes, and take no notice."
"You speak so, because I am too obtuse to understand, in
the manner of your quick intellect and your clear apprehen-
sion ; but at least I can offer whatever I have not yet
given—whatever remains to me of myself; and you know,
yes, I am certain you know, I have everything to beg, to
entreat from you, tut have already lost all to you."
"Now indeed I do not understand you. In what way
have we caused you any loss P"
" I am afraid. Oh, Miss Winspear--oh,
Ruth, can you treat me thus P"
" How P" said Ruth, startled that I used her Christian
name. "Indeed I do not in the least understand to what
you allude."
" Oh! to nothing, since it is thus. That which would
be life to me, is yet nothing since you look on it thus."
" You say thus,' said Ruth, " but how ? lam very bad
at guessing riddles, and since you speak in them I must
renounce comprehending. Let us say no more except that
I beg you to continue still the course I thought you were
kindly taking. You can't help observing, but refrain from
speaking; every family has its private matters, and a
stranger does harm by meddling with them."
" I am a mere stranger then ; I am an unwelcome
stranger. You despise, you dislike me ; you will be glad it
I promise never to enter your door again. And if it be not
beyond human force, I will do so."
" I cannot comprehend your meaning," said Ruth, "but
this is mere nonsense. You have been, you are very wel-
come; we are glad to see you, when neither you nor we are
busy ; you have rendered us a great service."
" On, for the sake of heaven, do not say that word again.
It is of no use to break a man's heart, and ridicule it for
breaking. Nay, I have not offended you," I cried, as she
turned away. " Forgive me; at least do so much, and I
will go."
"It is time for me to return to the house," said Ruth.
"Besides, it begins to rain. Goodeveningl Will you
have an umbrella ?"
"It is time," said I. "Farewell," and I turned away,
stopping after a few yards and turning, but Ruth was al-
ready at the top of the avenue, and in another minute lost
to my sight within the house.
Was ever more prosaic love-scene upon record!
Conspicuous among the other characters is the
easy, careless, extravagant Lord Ennavant, who
gambles away the moneys of his estate more rapidly
than his faithful steward can collect them. Here is a
characteristic sketch of steward and spendthrift :
THE ORDEAL.
Rather sooner than was anticipated Lord Ennavant ar-
rived, and came into the room where we were working to-
gether. He threw himself into an arm chair, and at once
desired the worst and the best to be told him.
" It's like drawing a tooth," said he, " to come into this
horrid room and this chair. I know it will be all right by
the time I get out of it, but you make me go through tor-
ments before that happy moment arrives. So now for it.
Do your worst, and end by giving me command of the
money."
" Just as I had arranged with the banker, to give
you credit for necessary expenses for the next three
months--"

" That can't be helped. It makes not the slightest
difference to this sum. This is a wholly unnecessary ex-
pense."

"With a little prudence, and the great storm that swept
down your Gloucestershire timber, you might have got on
till rent day, and then paid the banker with the rents, ne-
glected the butcher, and gone on again."
" Well, I'm glad you think £5,000 is an equivalent for
for only a little prudence. So I have committed no great
excess after all. It ought to be all the easier for you to
supply me."
" It is, however, not easy at all," said Mr. Points,
gloomily. "But I have met with one expedient, the suc-
cess of which I shall know in the course of the evening, and
would have sent you word.---"
"if I had not been in such a devil of a hurry ? But I
want to be clear of the thoughts; for although I never
make myselt miserable except in this accursed room, there
is always the sense that I shall have to go through it till it
is done. So what is it ?
Lord Ennavant occasionally learns some home-
truths from the plain-spoken John Greswold, and is
happy to befriend him, when he can do so without
personal inconvenience. Mrs. Winspear is a capi-
tally drawn character—while Miss Nation, the
fast fine lady, is assuredly a caricature. Her con-
versation reminds us of another would-be fine
lady—Miss Carolina Wilhelmina Skeggs, We
take leave of John Greswold with a pleasant remi-
niscence of our passing intercourse, but with
regret to leave him with his fate and fortune a
mystery and his history " nowhere."

A FRIGHTFUL HINT !—The bnitaltaliana of the
14th calls the attention of Garibaldi to the follow-
ing points ;—That Caprers is a rock where there
are not many houses, and where he resides with a
very few persons and without any precaution. 2.
That the Greek Archipelago is full of small islets
full of pirates, always ready for plunder. 3. That
consequently it might happen that, seduced by
the promise of a rich reward, some pirates might
surprise and carry him off, or perhaps kill or throw
him into the sea. " For those reasons," adds that
journal, " we recommend him to keep a sharp look
out."

Advices from Tours state that the Bishop of
Evreux has got much worse, and is now daßgerously ill,
The Archbishop of Tours, at whose house he has been stop-
ping, administered the last sacraments to him the night
before last, and prayers have been offered up in all the
hurches.

The King of Greece has invited the represen.,
tatives of France, England, and Russia to accompany him
in his excursion to the lonian Isles.

The Official Gazette of Turin publishes a Royal
demo suppressing the special administration of the seques-
trated estates of the ex-Duke of Modena, and transfers it to
the agents of the State domains.

The Napoleonien of Rodez states that M. Ga-
robuau, Cure of Cassagnes Begoubes (Aveyron) has been
murdered. The authorities of Rodez went to the scene of
the crime to institute an inquiry, the details of which are
not yet given.

STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH THE ISLE OF
OF WIGHT.—The Lady of the Lake, a steamer fitted up
like the American river steamers, has commenced running
between Cowes and Southampton. There are now no
fewer than five steam packet communications between the
Isle of Wight and the mainland, viz., between the island
and Littlehampton, Portsmouth, Stokes Bay, Southampton,
and Lymington,