The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-11 00:00:00

was in hip works. He knew himself surrouinied by
-wallies and kncompassed by difficulties, but he
trusted in the worth of his chum nut of him-
"elf, he expected no immediate return to his
exerioos, and he looked forward to no respite to
his pieieful toils,
till the great summons should be
given that to the weary labourer procleiuis the
dawning of the rest of heaven. Ho was mainly in-
strumental in rescuing Janet Dempster from the
dreary despondency into which she had fallen, and
his last hours were cheered by the prospect of his
works living after him, inasmuch as she would be
leading a useful and honourable existence tbrough
the long years which stretched before her in the
vista of the future. In "Mr. Gilfil's Love
Story" we find displayed the most genius
in composition and the most vividness in
narration. It is a striking episode of man's exist-
ence, one which stands out fro the canvas of time
as the beholder gazes on ,s picture. We are first
introduced to Mr. Gilfil in his old age, apparently
so dull and dreary, so monotonous and mediocre,
and then looking back we are shown that this
sombre and sedate old man in his quiet took part in
scenes of no common interest and excitement. It
is truly said that enough consideration is not given
to what may have beets in the youth of that age, all
consider so unprofitable to itself and all others.
" Alas ! alas ! we poor mortals are often little better
than wood-ashes—there is small sign of the sap,
and the leafy buds that were once there ; but
wherever we see wood-ashes we know that all that
early fulness of life must haie beau. I at least
hsrdly ever look at a bent old man, or a wizened old
woman, but I see also with my mind's eye, that Past
of which they are the shrunken remains, and the
unfinished romance of rosy cheeks and bright eyes
seems sometimes of feeble interest and insignificance
compared with that drama of hope and love which
has long ago reached its catastrophe, and left the
poor soul like a dim dusty stage, with all its' sweet
garden scenes and fair perspectives, ()vet:hulled and
thrust out of sight." CaptainWybrow, Gilfil, and
especially Caterina stand out prominently before us,
they are the chief characters, each admirably sketched
in its peculiar and distinctive style. Caterina was
a child of the South, which is a circums'ance most
felicitously contrived to account for her wild energy
and fiery nature. Captain Wybrow is a type of the
selfish man, which might be adapted to any time.
He was conceited, and so long as his own ideas of
self-indulg.'nce were gratified, he thought little and
cared less for what gave pain or pleasure to others.
Gilfil was of a generous disposition, but as often
occurs, he seemed slighted and passed by, while all
that was bright and lovely was flung iu the path of
the unworthy. However, real kindness and genuine
worth must effect some good and influence in some
degree, and he who had been nobody in the sum-
mer time of their glee, was the all-important re-
feree in the dark days that came all too quickly on
Cheverel Manor. Some of the scenes are remark-
ably well traced which took place on the arrival of
Miss Assher, the favoured rival of Caterina. It ap-
pears only in accordance with probability when we
read of the early death of the young girl who had
exhausted the energies of an existence on the occur-
rences of a few fleeting months. Her spirit had
burned itself out, as it were, in its fiery struggles
against time and fate, and no after calm or kind
attention could renew the wasted strength or fan
the expiring flame. So ended the romance of
Maynard Gilfil's life ; the bright dream of his
youth was over, the hopes dills manhood decayed.
He went forth from the whirl of those eventful days
to a long, cheerless, solitary existence ; but while
those around deemed him cold and uninteresting,
the heart within was mourning over the ashes of
its early quenched fires. It needed not to tell one
of his vocation, to where the stricken should
turn for solac?, or how the lonely may find a
friend, but the human mind, overshadowed by such
clouds cannot resume its original lustre or regain
its wonted source, and hence it is that the hero of
this sad story is left as a ruin on life's highway. It
is impossible to peruse these histories without agree-
ing in the skill and superiority of their author. He
has displayed an insight into character, a knowledge
of the ruling passion of men, and a brilliancy
and vigour of expression that otamp his pro•
ductions as those of no ordinary writer. What.
ever is attempted is successful, what he proposes to
do is always carried out, and whether the person
described be a Miss Linnet or a Caterina, whether
frigid in the rules of northern decorum, sr glowing
with the ardour of a southern sun, alike the details
seem lifelike and natural. The Scenes of Clerical
Life will no doubt obtain a wide-spread circulation
which will bear testimony to the recognition of
their merits.