Thesemeritshaveceasedtobedisputed，but，thoughaloyalTennysonian，IhaveneverquitebeenabletoreconcilemyselftoMaudasawhole。Theheroisanunwholesomeyoungman，andnotofanoriginalkind。Heisunbeautenebreuxof1830。IsupposeithasbeenobservedthatheismerelyTheMasterofRavenswoodinmoderncostume，andwithoutLadyAshton。HerpartistakenbyMaud\'sbrother。ThesituationsoftheheroandoftheMasterwhoseacquaintanceThackerayneverrenewedafterhelosthishatintheKelpieFlowarenearlyidentical。Thefamiliesandfathersofbothhavebeenruinedby\"thegrayoldwolf，\"andbySirWilliamAshton，representingthehouseofStair。Bothheroeslivedawdlingon，hardbytheirlostancestralhomes。Bothfallinlovewiththedaughtersoftheenemiesoftheirhouses。Thelovesofbotharebaffled，andendintragedy。Bothareconcernedinaduel，thoughtheMaster，onhiswaytotheground，\"stableshissteedintheKelpieFlow，\"andthewooerinMaudshootsLucyAshton\'sbrother，——ImeanthebrotherofMaud，——thoughduellinginEnglandwasoutofdate。Thencomesanintervalofmadness，andherecoversamidthepatrioticemotionsoftheill-fatedCrimeanexpedition。Bothloversaregloomy，thoughtheMasterhasbettercause，fortheTennysonianheroismorecomfortablyprovidedforthanEdgarwithhis\"manandmaid，\"hisCalebandMysie。
Finally，bothTheBrideofLammermoor，whichaffectedTennysonsopotentlyinboyhood\"Amerrymerrybridal，Amerrymerryday\"，andMaud，excelinpassagesratherthanaswholes。
TheheroofMaud，withhisclandestinewooingofagirlofsixteen，hasthisapology，thatthematchhadbeen，asitwere，predestined，anddesiredbythemotherofthelady。Still，thebrotherdidnotilltobeangry；andthepeevishnessoftheheroagainstthebrotherandtheparvenulordandrivalstrikesajarringnote。InEngland，atleast，thegeneralsentimentisopposedtothismoody，introspectivekindofyoungman，ofwhomTennysonisnottobesupposedtoapprove。Wedonotfeelcertainthathismanandmaidwere\"everreadytoslanderandsteal。\"Thatseemstobepartofhisjaundicedwayoflookingateverythingandeverybody。Hehasevenabadwordforthe\"man-god\"ofmoderndays，-
\"Themanofsciencehimselfisfonderofglory，andvain，Aneyewell-practisedinnature，aspiritboundedandpoor。\"
Rienn\'estsacreforthiscynic，whothinkshimselfaStoic。ThusMaudwasmadetobeunpopularwiththeauthor\'scountrymen，whoconceivedaprejudiceagainstMaud\'slover，describedbyTennysonas\"amorbidpoeticsoul，……anegotistwiththemakingsofacynic。\"