The contrast between the characters of the gay and thoughtless wife and the pensive, pure-minded girl is skilfully managed, and the various steps in the downward course of Althea’s nature are exhibited in detail.  Like Anadea in “The Fatal Secret” she retires to her chamber not to sleep, but to indulge in the freedom of her thoughts, which are poured forth at length to let the reader into the secrets of her passion-ridden bosom.  To reveal character in action was beyond the limit of Eliza Haywood’s technique; and once the story is well under way, Althea becomes as colorless as only a heroine of romance can be.  But the author’s effort to differentiate the female characters before the action begins, and to make a portion of the plot turn upon a psychological change in one of them shows that even sensation-loving readers were demanding a stricter veracity of treatment than had hitherto been necessary.

But perhaps the most careful interlocking of character and event to be found among these embryo novels is contained in “The Life of Madam De Villesache.  Written by a Lady, who was an Eye-witness of the greatest part of her Adventures, and faithfully Translated from her French Manuscript.  By Mrs. Eliza Haywood” (1727).  Since no original source for this story has come to light, we may probably assume that the French manuscript was a complete fabrication on the part of the English author.  At any rate, the tale was one of passion and intrigue such as she delighted to compose.

Henrietta, daughter of a certain Duke, grows up in obscure circumstances to be a miracle of beauty.  When her father comes to carry her to court, her rustic lover, Clermont, pleads so effectually that she consents to a secret union with him.  In the glare of the court she half forgets her country husband until too fatally reminded of him by being sought in marriage by the Marquis of Ab——­lle.  Her attempts at evasion are vain, and rather than face her father’s anger, she permits herself to be married a second time.  She has not long enjoyed her new rank when Clermont, whom she has informed of her step, appears to reproach her and to claim his rights.  Still irresolute, she persuades him by tears and prayers not to expose her perfidy, and secretly admits him to a husband’s privileges.  In due time the pair are caught by the Marquis, and to avoid his rage confess their prior marriage.  Clermont is thrown into prison, where he dies not without suspicion of poison.  Henrietta retires to convent, but the Duke, her father, in order to gain the Marquis’s estate for her unborn infant, manages to stifle the evidence of her first marriage.  Enraged that he cannot obtain a divorce, the Marquis resolves to be revenged upon his perjured wife.  He intercepts her coach in a wood outside of Paris and brutally murders her.  The Duke orders her magnificently buried.  Although nothing against the Marquis can be proved, he is not allowed to escape the vengeance of heaven, but goes mad and in a lucid interval just before death confesses his crimes.