CHAPTER XVI.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1890, 23 April 1892, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XVI.

LOVES TE.ST.

She did not weep — But o'er her blight eyes came » happy mist Like that which keept the heart of Eden green,

Before the useful trouble of the rain.

In most colonists' lives there comes an Australian spring. Ere that trip to Europe, Alton Lyndhurst's favourite complaint was that he had lived his life ; that dreams, and desires, and even ambition, had conic to an end for him ; that he had no expectation of ever doing better work, or winning wider renown, or being in any wise better, or happier for the passage of coming years. Yet, to-night he feels the soft, gentle fragrant spring within and without his whole being, as if a new world opened its portals to him. In a word, he is in love, *n love with a good woman, in whose faith and constancy he has no Bhadow of doubt.

Within a month of his return to New Zealand the young novelist renews his acquaintance with the Carlingtons, who had already arrived with their kinsman, and had taken up their abode at the "Mount." He has not much time for playing the gallant, inasmuch aa he is busy with the publication of Inn new book, a story in which he has squandered the spare hours of his long holiday, and in which he has earnestly striven to rise out of the old conventional groove, into something higher and better. Maud Carlington, who has been but as a passing sunbeam discovers his life, has, deeply influenced his thought, unawares perhaps, but none the less influenced the entire work, which he in his heart of hearts has dedicated to her.

Alas, for thy towering aspirations, poor scribe ! The book is a failure. Kindly critics recognize the intention of the writer, applaud the idyllic simplicity of the story, the purity of the sentiments, and give their readers a general impression of weakness, and a half realised design. In short, damn the whole thing with faint praise. The "Thunderer," ruthless as JefEery in his attack upon Wordsworth, says : " Extract the acid cynicism, and the half veiled immorality from Mr. Lyndhurst's style, and the result is about as palatable as lemonade without lemon or sugar," and the great journal, summing up with that grand air of papal infallability, continues, — " "We advise the author to stick to the tinsel with which lie has achieved some rather brilliant effects and not waste his labour in deep sinking operations upon an imagination which does not abound ingold." No voice in the land higher or mightier than that of the infallible " Thunderer," though opinions vary in their estimate of that journal's wisdom, and strict notions of fair play. The renew wounds Lyndhurst as keenly as if the people of New Zealand with one voice had acknowledged the critics judgment unassailable. His book is the expression of all that was best and truest in his mind ; and, lo ! the result.

His publishers politely regret that the book has not been quite so successful in tho way ofrsale as his previous work, and gently hint that having succeeded in one line, it is hazardous to attempt another.