Page:Literary studies by Joseph Jacobs.djvu/98

calling may in some measure account for the sensitiveness which she showed towards adverse criticism. When a writer is advocating a doctrine it is natural that he should be disappointed if his views are not even seen. And certainly by couching her opinions in the form of novels George Eliot did her best to withhold them from all but the most thoughtful. Hence a continual feeling—often expressed in her diary—that her efforts had been vain, a 'horrible scepticism' as to the effectiveness of her work. Lewes used to keep from her all critical notices except those that were favourable. The Athenæum is considered to have given 'the best literary critique' of The Spanish Gypsy, while, on the other hand, certain expressions in a letter to Mr. Charles Lewes show that our review of Theophrastus Such displeased her. And, indeed, as was but natural, she got to know of most unfavourable criticisms, notwithstanding all her contempt for 'damnatory praise from ignorant journalists.' Her answers to those criticisms are often of interest; thus she informs one of her correspondents that there is not one thing put into Mr. Poyser's mouth that is due to memory. If so, it is curious that she should make Parson Irwine say of one of them that it is as good as a fable of Æsop. So, too, we learn that there is not a single portrait in Adam Bede—a statement