It is a pure Behnesque _nouvelle_, merely describing the plots and outrage which ruin the heroine (_The Unfortunate Mistress_ is the second title), but attempting no character-drawing (the only hint at such a thing is that Idalia, instead of being a meek and suffering victim, is said to have a violent temper), and making not the slightest effort even to complete what story there is.

For the thing breaks off with a sort of "_perhaps_ to be concluded in _some_ next," about which we have not made up our minds.

Very rarely do we find such a curious combination or succession of styles so early: but the novel, for pretty obvious reasons, seems to offer temptations to it and facilities for it.
For _Idalia's_ above-named juniors, while not bad books to read for mere amusement, have a very particular interest for the student of the history of the novel.

Taken in connection with their author's earlier work, they illustrate, for the first time, a curious phenomenon which has repeated itself often, notably in the case of Bulwer, and of a living novelist who need not be named.

This is that the novel, more almost than any other kind of literature, seems to lend itself to what may be called the _timeserving_ or "opportunism" of craftsmanship--to call out the adaptiveness and versatility of the artist.