12 JULY 1873, Page 23

Katherine's Trial. By Hohne Lee. (Smith and Elder.)—It must be

allowed that the trial of Miss Katherine Elliott, alias Fenwick, was a somewhat severe ono. The Lady Clare of Mr. Tennyson's ballad was doubtless but ill pleased to find that she "was not the Lady Clare," even though Lord Ronald was honourably faithful. Katherine also has a faithful Lord Ronald in "Cousin Rous," and generally her trial" is made as light to her as it possibly could. The father, who is obliged to disown her, still loves her as if she were his own ; the false mother opportunely dies ; powers that threatened to be hostile are disarmed by her smile ; her lover behaves, not only with honour, but with incompar- able tact ; and finally, the real father turns out to be a worthy and reputable gentleman. The author, in fact, relents to her beautiful heroine, and instead of making, as she well might have done, a very harrowing story out of her "trial," makes out of it a very pretty, pleas- ing tale, in which the sketches of Italian manners and scenery are much the most prominent and important features.