Roundabout Papers - Penn State University

Thackeraywoe is me that the glory of novels should ever decay;that dust should gather round them on the shelves;that the annual cheques from Messieurs the publishersshould dwindle, dwindle! Inquire at Mudie’s, or the LondonLibrary, who asks for the “Mysteries of Udolpho”now? Have not even the “Mysteries of Paris” ceased tofrighten? Alas, our novels are but for a season; and Iknow characters whom a painful modesty forbids me tomention, who shall go to limbo along with “Valancourt”and “Doricourt” and “Thaddeus of Warsaw.”A dear old sentimental friend, with whom I discoursedon the subject of novels yesterday, said that her favoritehero was Lord Orville, in “Evelina,” that novel whichDr. Johnson loved so. I took down the book from a dustyold crypt at a club, where Mrs. Barbauld’s novelists repose:and this is the kind of thing, ladies and gentlemen,in which your ancestors found pleasure:—“And here, whilst I was looking for the books, I wasfollowed by Lord Orville. He shut the door after he camein, and, approaching me with a look of anxiety, said, ‘Isthis true, Miss Anville—are you going?’“‘I believe so, my lord,’ said I, still looking for thebooks.“‘So suddenly, so unexpectedly: must I lose you?’“‘No great loss, my lord,’ said I, endeavoring to speakcheerfully.“‘Is it possible,’ said he, gravely, ‘Miss Anville can doubtmy sincerity?’“‘I can’t imagine,’ cried I, ‘what Mrs. Selwyn has donewith those books.’“‘Would to heaven,’ continued he, ‘I might flatter myselfyou would allow me to prove it!’“‘I must run up stairs,’ cried I, greatly confused, ‘andask what she has done with them.’“‘You are going then,’ cried he, taking my hand, ‘andyou give me not the smallest hope of any return! Willyou not, my too lovely friend, will you not teach me,with fortitude like your own, to support your absence?’“‘My lord,’ cried I, endeavoring to disengage my hand,‘pray let me go!’“‘I will,’ cried he, to my inexpressible confusion, droppingon one knee, ‘if you wish me to leave you.’249