The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-21 00:00:00

The Rom Mrs. Norton's New Story.

Lost and Saved. By the Hon. Mrs. Norton. 3 vols
Hurst and Blackett.

The accomplished and gifted granddaughters of
Sheridan are at this moment dividing the interest
of the literary woEd—a new novel from the pen of
the Hon. Mrs. Norton, and a new comedy by Lady
Gifford (better known as Lady Dufferin), having
within the last few days appeared almost simulta-
neously. Of the brilliant comedy at the Haymarket
we have already spoken. The novel of Mrs. Norton
now lies before us—a novel, like all the productions
of its author, endued with a twofold character—
remarkable for its brilliant description°, vivacious
sketches, and graceful polished tone ; but remark-
able also, like all the outpourings of that tender
poetic nature, for the intense feeling, the tender
pathos, and the under-current of subdued emotion
that imperceptibly, but most sensibly, pervade the
entire composition. Mrs. Norton is no hacknied
novel writer, no conjurer pulling the strings of a
puppet show. Her hand, with the rare facility of
genius, can touch the chords of the heart so skilfully
as to elicit at pleasure every varying emotion.
Her writings not only excite our admiration, they
extort our sympathy ; and in saying this of any
work of art we are according the highest praise.
This praise is to a certain extent due to her new
story of " Lost and Saved." The characters are
delineated with wonderful skill, the scenes described
are in many instances almost dramatic in their in-
tense Effect, and the story itself—a story of tender
trustfulness, herrtless treachery, and cruel suffering
—is beautifully told. Yet,as a story, there are many
points on which we can accord it but very quali-
fied approbation. Beatrice Brooke, the heroine,
over whose very name the authoress lingers lov-
ingly, is the child of an Italian mother, and is
endowed with that " fatal gift," an ardent and im-
passionEd temperament, so frequently productive of
unhappiness. Beatrice, young, inexperienced, and
enthusiastic, loves and is beloved by Montagu
Treherne, the heir to the earldom of Caerlaverock.
It is ordained by the will of an unreasonable
grandfather that Montagu Treherne shall espouse
one of his cousins or forfeit his share of the family
estates. The old Earl, his uncle, is at Venice, and
there, in the hope of gaining his consent to
their marriage, Treherne persuades Beatrice to
proceed, in company with some strangers—the
acquaintances of a day. Beatrice goes, although
her father, the innocent victim of some unhappy
speculation, has just been arrested and is in prison.
This first fatal step, neglect of her duty as a
daughter, leads by a series of somewhat improbable
catastrophes to the elopement of Beatrice and Mon-
tagu from Venice with the intention of being mar-
ried at Trieste. They embark by mistake on board
the wrong steamboat and are taken to Alexandria.
The British Consulate there is, for the time, inacces-
sible to them in consequence of the arrival of " the
Marchioness," a most portentous personage, of
whom we shall speak later on. Compelled to pro-
ceed on a journey through the Desert, the unhappy
Beatrice is taken seriously ill, and overcome with
exhaustion and anxiety is reduced to the verge of
the grave. One grief haunts her—her father will
hear of ber death without hearing of her marriage.
A travelling doctor in the suite of " the Mar-
chioness" happens to arrive at the station where
the invalid is lying. Commis rating her ccndition,
he declares her death is imminent unless ber mind
can be set at rest. We must transcribe the scene
that follows. The chapter is entitled