The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-15 00:00:00

deceived his family had no claim on her reverence;
and he who, in the depths of poverty, had wel-
comed one wbo had no claim on his labour, and
made her happy by the kindness of his care, he she
felt was her friend, her protector, and her guide,
and she did not intend to desert him. Godfrey
could not deny the truth of this, and he returned to
his childless home: Some of the village characters
are very aptly described in their quaint style, and
present great knowledge of men and customs of
I
life on the part of the author. Dolly Winthrop s
a very origin al person, and some of her suggestions
were more likely to impress the mind with their
downright earnestness than many more laboured
orations and studied phrases. She was of essen-
tial service to Silas in his moods of doubtfulness
and dismay at the strange events of his life. In
referring to the calamities that had caused him to
quit his native place and come to Raveloe he had
said "It is dark to me; I doubt it will be dark to
the last." " Well, yes, Master Marner," said
Dolly, "I doubt it may. It's the will of Them
above as a many things should be dark to us ; but
there's some things as I've never felt in the
dark about, and they're 'mostly what comes
i'the day's work. You were hard done
by that once, Master Marner, and it- seems
as we'll never know the rights of it; bat that
does not hinder there being a rights, Master
Marner, for all it's dark to you and me." If
this idea of the ignorant woman were embraced
and accepted by the wise and learned ones who
fill the high places of humanity, there might be
more real knowledge diffused, that would help to
guide in the intricate paths, and smooth the
rugged roads of life, and there would be more of
that precious wisdom extant which would adorn
its possessor as a rare gem of priceless setting,
and which would lead them in the ways of plea-
santness and peace. Silas Marner may not fulfil
the expectations of those who may be looking
out for something very striking from one whose
works have been admired and appreciated far
and near, and rendered their author renowned
among those whose writings have influenced and
impressed the minds of their generation, and very
possibly may survive their own day, to exhibit to
another class of society the fashions and foibles of
this present moment. Yet there is more feeling in
many passages of this work than in its brilliant
predecessors, and while some of their errors re-
main, the general style seems mellowed -by a
softer impress, and tuned to a finer tone. The
lesson of life, as taught to Silas Marner, may
teach many who are wiser, and the task will not
be a profitless one. The satisfaction to be derived
from the perusal of a superior book does not cease
when the interest of the tale is over ; but rests
in the memory as the vibration of sweetness that
lingers in the ears when the sounding chords
have been swept along by the magical touch of
melody. So the master-mind of genius can fas-
cinate with an irresistible attraction, and shine
with an immortal lustre, and where we meet
with a work that approaches in any degree !co
the high standard of perfection as regards merit
of style or might of expression, we must appre-
ciate and admire it accordingly. The enthusiastic
reception that was awarded to " Adam Bede" is
not likely to await this, its successor, in the lists
of competition for public favour, but whereas it
displays much of that shining order of talent that
irradiated its pages, it may expect, not unreason-
ably, some reflex of the glory of its success, and
some shadow of the grace of its approval.

Framley Parsonage. By Anthony Trollope, author
of " Barchester Towers, &c. &c. 3 vols. Smith,
Elder, and Co.
"Framley Parsonage," as most of its readers will
probably be aware, has long been one of the chief
attractions of the Cornhill Magazine. The sayings
and doings of the quiet little world at Framley, of
Mark Robarts, and his wife and sister at the par-
sonage, of Lord Lufton and his mother at
Framley Court, of Mr. Sowerby and the Duke
of Omnium, of our old clerical friends at
Barchester and their families, have added
greatly to the interest with which the sub-
scribers to that able and successful serial have
regarded the regular arrival of the orange cover.
And now that the tale is told, that the actors have
played their part out in its pages, the reappear-
ance of " Framley Parsonage" in true novel fashion
was of course to be looked for. Now that it is thus
gathered together and presented to the world, the
brilliant author of " Castle Richmond" and The
Bertrams" need not fear a comparison with his
later works. Though less striking as a whole,
possessing less vivid interest in the plot, and less
connection in the chain of incident, it is so simple
and life-like in its interest, so natural and clever in
its delineations of character, that many readers
will deem it more pleasing than their former
favourites. Its faults may be attributed in some
measure to the manner of its first publication, a
degree of prolixity and rambling being sometimes
perceptible, and the crowd of individuals brought
before us being sufficient to perplex if not to con-
fuse the ordinary reader. This may, however, be
the more readily excused, as the author's great
forte is undoubtedly the portrayal of character.
His dramatis persona are numerous indeed, yet
each has an individual idiosyncrasy, maintained
by skilful touches, given when the portrait might
be most easily slighted by a less finished artist.
And these characters are natural, not impossible
heroes and heroines, not highflown or even very
high principled in their prevailing sentiments, not
hardened monsters and criminals. They are ordi-
nary men and women, such as are met with every
day ; !pleasant, genial, and frank, ;some of them ;
others hard, keen, worldly, not scrupling to benefit
themselves at the expense of a friend. The good
predominates largely in some—the bad in others)
but mingled in all, as it is in our daily lfe.
Mr. Trollope does not make the mistake that is so
common with historians and novelists, of dividing
mankind into black and white. His worst charac-
ters have some touches of human feeling, his best
some traces of human weakness. Mark Robarts,
vicar of Framley, and one of the heroes, has indeed
rather more than his share of this weakness, and
although natural enough, he is by no means the most
interesting person in the book. Instead of arouwing
the reader's sympathy for his troubles, he often
awakens his contempt, and is scarcely good enough
for his gracious and loveable wife. Mark Robarts
is one of those fortunate individuals whose path in
life has been an uninterrupted course of successes.
A school friendship with young Lord Lufton led
to his widowed mother's bestowal of a wealthy
living. The lady he selected for his wife suited the
views of his patroness, and when we are intrcduced
to him settled at the parsonage he has nothing to
trouble him. But he brings perplexity on himself
by a rash intimacy with an embarrassed spend-
thrift, who induces him to put his name to bills for
his benefit. Those who have very slight experience
in life or in novels need not be told how this ends,
although it hangs over the rash parson's head for
some time. Meanwhile Mark's sister, Lucy, comes
to live at the parsonage, and Lord Lufton, who is a
fine attractive character, prefers her to the bride of
his mother's choosing. Lady Lufton is one, of the
principal actors throughout the story. She is an
excellent woman, a devoted mother, and a faithful
friend, but, like other admirable people, she prefers
her own way to that of those around her. Mark
Roberts has been involved in several dilemmas, be-
cause the patroness of the living is inclined to interfere
with its incumbent, and his acquaintance with sows
obnoxious neighbours occasions a stormy scene be-
tween his wife and her old friend Lady Lufton.
Lucy Robarts, who is a fresh and original charac-
ter, possessed of quick wit and ardent feeling, re-
ceives Lord Lufton's suit most ungraciously, giving
him a decided refusal, and when pressed for a rea-
son, declaring that she is indifferent to him. She
after wards reproaches herself for this falsehood,
knowing that pride, joined to her fear of Lady
Lufton's displeasure, has really actuated her. Lord
Lufton makes another attempt through her brother
Mark, but she repeats her refusal, admitting, how-
ever, that she will consent if his mother asks her,
which she knows is not very probable. .Lady Ltd-
ton is aghast, and plans an interview with Lucy,
who is as proud as herself. Lord Lufton departs
for Norway, and the matter is left in abeyance. On
this affair centres the chief interest of the story, as
Lord Lufton and Lucy are certainly its most
attractive characters. How all is set right at
last, how the mother's pride is conquered, and
how the threatened execution, on account of the
dreadful bills, is stayed, we leave the reader to
discover, only he may be confident that it does
happen, for Mr. Trollope, knowing perhaps that
he excels in melodrama and sparkling comedy
rather than in tragedy, is fond of making his
heroes and heroines happy, and bringing about gy:
cheerful denouement. The numerous ranks 01
secondary figures are well worth study. We meet
again most of our old friends of ."
Barchester Towers,
as well as renewing an acquaintance with Doctor
Thorne" and many of his associates. Miss Dun-
stable, shrewd, witty, kind, and flippant as of old,
steps forward to grt et us ; Mary Thorne, now fir it
Frank Gresham, appears in the character of match
-
s'
while the worthy Doctor himself occupies
a position by no means insignificant. Thee our
familiar friends of the cathedral city claim ~,,Erecogn-
ition. Mrs. Proudie, more vixenish and meaT'.
some than ever, with the meek bishop in her tram
Mrs. Grantly, her courteous enemy, with her beau-
tiful tiful but passionless daughter, whose portrait is
somewhat overdrawn in its unimpressionable piaci
c,ciatlvld;
wthiseha;rcplird.eAaeroalb),imw.hio,distisi7nvwsile,!
them. Mr. Trollope has not improved in his e is
,(1(°) ceert Itihe amnuwc
carat Mrs. Bald of Barchesatenrd,
aalntdh
oouigliheih•se with
mate of the clerical character,
truly;iq extenuation of Mark Robarts' weakness