tinism at a variety of times and places. It is
quite unfair to judge A Modern Instance or The
Rise of Silas Lapham as if they came from the
pen of Mr. Wells, to identify as the author's in-
competence to handle his situation the natural
incompetence of the Athertons, who represent the
social opinion of a community and an epoch, to
solve the final situation of A Modern Instance, or
to take the canting speculations of the Reverend
David Sewell, who represents the best religious
opinion of the same community and epoch, as the
last word of the author on the ways of Providence
with Silas Lapham. The purpose and, rightly
considered, the effect of these conclusions is to
record standards, not to conform to them or to
sanction them. And this condition as time goes
on cannot but work for the permanence of these
great novels.

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