PREFACE. IX

Provence that he first appreciated the fruitful value of this method, and that he definitely set himself the rule which he has ever since rigidly observed."

While only a small proportion of his work appears in poetical form, the poetic feeling and expression are prominent in ail his writings, and are so finely mingled with his realism that Emile Zola is led to say of him : " La nature bienveillante Ta mis à ce point exquis oii la poésie finit et oîi la réalité commence."