From the first there was a tone of sadness in her
stories. She set herself to describe ordinary life and to
sympatliize with common joys and sorrows. She had no
respect for that art which deals only with polite society,
and overlooks ilie struggles of the humdrum people
with whom we are perpetually in contact. Nor did she
eek approval by making her heroes happy. We h.ive



1
I



LIFE OF

been lold by ejrperienced playwrigbte that thecalasfroplie
of a play has much to do with its success. There are

some stories which ihe public wiU not allow to end un-
happily, however much such an end may be demanded
by the truth of arL Deep in human nature lies the
instinct of compensation, the confidence that everything
must be for the best ; that misery in this world is certain
to be made right in the next ; and that very probably in
our present condition there will be something to set off
on the other side. George Eliot's nature rejected with
scorn this easy method of making things pleasant. She
knew too well that everything is not always for the best ;
she regarded this unfounded confidence as one of the
most fruitful sources of immoral action. She was never
tired of repeating that the good and evil wliich exist in
the world are the outcome of good and bad actions done
by generations of human beings. Our lives are certain
to add something to the sum on one side or the other ;
let us be on our guard, not only that our actions are
positively good, but that Ihey are so directed as to inter-
fere as little as possible with the good which others are
trying to effect. The worst evil is often wrought by those
who are free from the most repugnant qualities. Stupidity,
and, above all, an easy, self-indulgent disposition, may
bring ruin on its possessor, and on alt who come into
contact with him. Such men are favourites in the world,
and are not considered to be bad. They are described
as well-meaning, and as "no man's enemy but their
own." Yet Goethe and George Eliot warn us with per-
sistent iteration that by characters such as this the best
lives are wasted. One thoughtless moment of Arthur



■ GEORGE ELIOT. 1

Donnithorne brings ruin and death to Hetty. 