Tales and Novels (Volume 19-20); Helen (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1886. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... test, at least with me; I lay it down with such a wish to follow--with steps ever so unequal, still to follow where it points the way." "Bravo bravissimo hear him, hear him print him, print him hot-press from the author to the author, hotpress " cried Churchill, and he laughed. Like one suddenly wakened from the trance of enthusiasm by the cold touch of ridicule, stood Beauclerc, brought down from heaven to earth, and by/that horrid little laugh, not the heart's laugh. / "But my being ridiculous doesliot make my cause so, and that is a comfort." "And another comfort you may have, my dear Granville," said Lady Davenant, " that ridicule is not the test of truth; truth should be the test of ridicule." "But where is the book V continued Beauclerc. Helen gave it to him. "Now, Mr. Churchill," said Beauclerc, "lam really anxious, I know you are such a good critic, will you show me these faults? blame as well as praise musl always be valuable from those who themselves excel." "You are too good," said Churchill. "Will you then be good enough to point out the errors for me?" "Oh, by no means," cried Churchill, "don't note me, do not quote me, I am nobody, and I cannot give up my authorities." "But the truth is all I want to get at," said Beauclerc. "Let her rest, my dear sir, at the bottom of her well: there she is, and there she will be for ever and ever, and depend, upon it none of our windlassing will ever bring her up." "Such an author as this," continued Beauclerc, "would have been so glad to have corrected any error." "So every author tells you, but I never saw one of them who did not look blank at a list of errata--if you knew how little one is thanked for them " "But you w.ould be thanked now," said Beauclerc: "the faults in style, at least." "Nay, I ...