One would have said beforehand that whatever might be the charms of the book, it would not be natural.

And yet the ear is never wounded by a tone that is false.

It is not always the case that in novel reading the ear should be wounded because the words spoken are unnatural.

Bulwer does not wound, though he never puts into the mouth of any of his persons words such as would have been spoken.

They are not expected from him.