FORETASTES OF DARWINISM (1844).
Source.—Lord Beaconsfield’s Tancred, bk. ii., chap. ix.
Lady Constance took up a book which was at hand, and said: “Do you know this?” And Tancred, opening a volume which he had never seen, found it was “The Revelations of Chaos”—a startling work just published, and of which a rumour had reached him.
“No,” he replied, “I have not seen it.”
“I will lend it you if you like; it is one of those books one must read. It explains everything, and is written in a very agreeable style.”
“It explains everything!” said Tancred. “It must indeed be a very remarkable book.”
“I think it will just suit you,” said Lady Constance. “Do you know, I thought so several times while I was reading it.”
“To judge from the title, the subject is rather obscure,” said Tancred.
“No longer so,” said Lady Constance. “It is treated scientifically; everything is explained by geology and astronomy, and in that way. It shows you exactly how a star is formed; nothing can be so pretty! A cluster of vapour—the cream of the Milky Way—a sort of celestial cheese—churned into light. You must read it; ’tis charming.”