Are there - any great English writers of whom it could be
said that they are " always at their best " ? Is it true even of Jaiie Austen ? Many true admirers will say yes. But have they read her one short story, Lady Susan (Philip Earle, 5s.).or are they purposely ignoring it ? So hastily wound up as to be by many people regarded as a mere fragment, it is, of course, contained in more than one edition of her works ; but, as Mr. Brimley Johnson points out in his Introduction to the present volume, it has been to a great extent left on one side by the critics. Lady Susan represents the only attempt Jane ever made to draw a wholly bad character, one who, but that he is assured of her wit and beauty, would appear to the reader as a monster, whose every thought and action is inspired by malice. But the perfect polish of their style marks the sheaf of letters which form the story.
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