large-minded criticism might well insist that it was childish to
demand that it must interest him.

I am not sure that any criticism is sufficiently large-minded for
this. I own that I like a finished story; but then also I like
those which Mr. James seems not to finish. This is probably the
position of most of his readers, who cannot very logically
account for either preference. We can only make sure that we
have here an annalist, or analyst, as we choose, who fascinates
us from his first page to his last, whose narrative or whose
comment may enter into any minuteness of detail without fatiguing
us, and can only truly grieve us when it ceases.