If Mr. Bennett had not played tricks with his personality, he would be, not merely what he is, a distinguished novelist, but a great novelist to-day. Mr. Bennett would have proved less actual but more actual if he had blended his realism with his romanticism.

It is quite clear as we read the succession of his novels that his strength lies in showing a diversity of new points-if he can only moderate his curiosity, and deal at such length as may enable him to give perspective to his scheme. Now, he would be immensely strong here if he had not cut adrift from his romanticism and relegated that entirely.