The Sun.
London, England, 1868-11-12 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Brothers- in-Law.

Tyree Vols. Hurst and
Blackett.

Of late years it has become the fashion with
novelists to depart somewhat from the beaten track
confining their sketches to the rucerds of fashion-
able life, and, accordingly, we oaten meet with
phases of existence which show the retired mer-
chant figuring in splendour, or the eager man of
business plodding on his way, hoping to amass a
colossal fortune, and to connect himself with those
whose lineage is their claim to the world's regard.
This novel before us partakes of that class, and a
variety of character is sketched during its eventful
narrative. One thing is noticeable, which is, that the
author comes straight to the point, and little or no
time is taken up in the discovery that the proposi-
tion of Mr. Curtis to take a second partner finds no
favour in the sight of Walter Harewood, the hero of
the tale. This scheming individual, whose grasp-
ing and selfish nature is gradually unfolded to the
reader, has many advantages on his side to
play out his desperate game and gain his crocked
purposes. He is the son--in-law as well as the
partner of Air. Curtis, a well-meaning m in, of little
grasp of mind or energy of character. Had circum-
stances not thrown Horace Vane in the way, the
end would have come sooner, lilt the introduction
of that clear-sighted and independent young man
complicates matters very much. Once admitted
behind the scenes, the new partner finds the
accounts to be in a very uusatis'actory state, and
with the zeal of new comers he sets to work to un-
ravel the mystery. Unfortunately for all con-
nected in the affair, his z'!al surpasses his judg-
ment, and he allows himself to give a promise
which nothing justifies him in consenting to. In the
first horror which an upright minds feels at the
defalcation of another and especially at the dis-
grace of one connected by the ties of family rela-
tionship, his judgment becomes perverted. Ho-
race Vane no sooner discovers that the delin-
quent he has so long sought for is Walter
Harewood than he makes a promise to the offender
not to reveal his guilt. The confusion which
ensues may be imagined, and certainly to all
intents and purposes the discovery had better not
have been made at this time, for the result of
liorace's quitting the business is to throw the game
still more completely into the hands of the con-
summate villain. As an illustration of what errors
Quixotic virtue may occasion and mistaken self-
sacrifice entail, this episode of Horace Vane's con-
duct may be regarded as a success. The conse-
quences are so serious and so ruinous that no un-
wise man could be made to See the error of his
ways more completely than does this most infatuated
youth. Besides these outlines of the tale there are
many passages which form the filling up, and are full
of pleasing incident or powerful delineation. Walter

Harewood has married the eldest daughter of -Mr.
Curtis, and Horace Vane the youngest. The contrast
between the characters of these sisters is not more
striking than is the difference of their lives. It is a
tribute to rectitude of purpose, though the course
pursued is a mistaken one, that Horace Vane's
wife iu the humble lodgings to which she is
driven is far happier than are Walter Hare-
wood and his unfortunate wife in their mag-
nificent mansion. Mildred has to bear hard-
ships for which her gentle nature is unfitted,
and to face the thousand ills to which po-
verty is heir, but she is ashamed of nothing,
while Katherine has to endure anguish which can
hardly be surpassed in her distrust of her husban l's
conduct, and her fear of the consequences to all.
it seems almost too good to be true when, at last,
she persuades him to confess his crimes in writing,
although even then it is doubtful if he would have

forwarded the document to its destination had not
an awful warning come upon him. His unfortunate
wife passes away, during the night that follows
upon his confession, from the world where her lot
has been so hard, to that better state where the
mourner shall be comforted, an the weary find
eternal rest. In this world, however, sin and s )r-
-ro- most abound, and the errors of the past w►ll
always leave their traces upon the future, no matter
how hardly we strive to counteract them. Ho-
race Vane has sufficient mementoes of his folly
before him. His father-in-law, whose interests he
has sacrifice] in screening the offen ler, fails in
business, and is m.tteriafly injure 1 in health by
the shocks he receives, while the awkward feeling
that has sprung up between the families in
consequence of Horace's withdrawal from the busi-
ness without giving any explanation, can never be
got over. To shelter himself Walter llarewood has
brought charges against llorace, and has counter-
feited his handwriting, and the injurious reports af-
fecting his character spread far and wide, until they
reach his mother. Mrs. Vane is not of a trustful na-

ture, and the probabilities beingsostrong against her
son, she gives too ready credence to the tale. The
communications that pass between them are of a
ckaracter not lieely to be speedily forgotten or for-
given, and the vexation and disappointment alto-
gether affect her health, and hurry on a prema-
ture old age. The lesson to be learned is plain, and
cannot be put aside. Justice must be done to all
alike, and if the guilty be screened at the expense
of the innocent we are neither fulfilling Divine be-
hests nor following the laws of hum to wisdom.
Had Horace immeliately informed his faller-
in-law, the head partner, of tin Lets he had
discovered, he might have left it to him to de-
cide what course to pursue, but he sttrte I
on a venture as unwise as it was unprofitable. While
the plot of the story is open to criticism on the

score of improbability, many passages are powerful
and effective. The thorny road of poverty is
well described, and whether we look at Horace
battling through the world in the dreary struggle
for life, or turn to Mildred in her vain attempts to
reconcile the supply with the demand, we may
recognise a true picture of the hardships and suf-
ferings of the shabby genteel, which often form
the worst :part of the trials of those badly
provided with this world's goods. The two other
daughters of Mr. Curtis, Janet and Lucy, are well
described ; the one attempts too much, and the
other too little, but the over-s-nsitiveness of there-
flective Janet is finally toned down, while Lucy
developes into a most undesirable character, and
her marriage for money leaves her °pent° tempt ition
and a prey to discontent. " Brothers in Law"
puts before us many varied scenes and
distinctive characters, and the reader cannot •
have cause to complain of monotony.
It is truly said in the concluding passage that
" death is a light evil when compared to
some other afflictions ;" and so the chief actor
in this tale finds it. Better the quiet grave
of the elder sister than the flaunting career
of the mistaken Lucy, whose whole life is
vanity and vexation of spirit. Walter llarewood'a
false ambition disappoints his hopes and blights
• his prospects. Other instances are not wanting to
show the failure of those schemes which rest
on shallow foundations. Of the style of the
work it may be said that it is most.
successful where it is most natural, and
where the writer is more carried away by the
importance of the subject, or wrapt in its interest,
than seeking for effect. On the whole, the chief
merit consists in the delineation of character, and
that of Walter hardwood is mere natural than that of
iloraceVane, although, admitting the circumstances,
he latter is well drawn. These volumes may be
taken up to pass an idle hour profitably, for they
lo not fall short of the reTairements of mo lent fiction,
inasmuch as they have a meaning, and show that
'eeneath the surface of the gravest sorrows, and
the records of the brightest joys, there is an un-
lercu:Tait flowing which will teed to good Cr evil.
Chose who would truly depict life must not be un-
nindful of this, for no action is so surill that it int.),
tot hive gnat results, and whether the sit
be hi l-
len with skill, or merely glossed over, the conse-
iuenees will be visible in the years to come if not
in the present hour. It is the representation of this
:act that imparts the chief character to the work
eefore us, for the guilty conscience of Harewood
i an accuser that will not be gainsaid, but for ever
ises up in judgment against him. If the present
as a first work, as from its freshness we are led to
surmise, it gives good augury indeed of its author's
future success as a Novelist.