Marie-Eve. By Marian Bower. (Cassell and Co. 6s.)—Although it is
very often melodramatic, and therefore ridiculous, there is something in this book which makes it worthy of mention. Like the novel noticed above, it has one excellently drawn character,— John Silverleigh, the very terre-a-terre country squire whom Marie-Eve marries. This honest gentleman's pathetic endeavours to understand the rather fantastic creature he has married are related with a good deal of sympathy and insight. It cannot be said that the author's excursions into the field of political intrigue are convincing, and the fiercely amorous Russian spy Novikoff is too familiar a figure to be impressive. The author gives us a rather good saying, which she puts into the mouth of an old servant,—" One-sided love is like eggs without bacon for break- fast. A deal of poach, and little enough relish." This is a great deal more amusing than M. Novikoff's melodramatic platitudes.
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