10 MARCH 1883, Page 25

Madelaine's Fault : a Story of French Life, translated by

Morris Neale (Remington and Co.), is pathetic enough, and has the merit of being short. The " fault " of Madeleine, though French in character, will not be considered a very heinous one, except by those who set up 'an almost Pharisaical standard of morality. Yet we should have pre- ferred to see the real sinner punished, in the shape of M. Robert Wall, who tempted Madeleine, rather than Madeleine herself. But then, French literature is nearly as deficient in "poetic justice" as, accord- ing to Mr. Arnold, French character is in "morality."