13 MARCH 1886, Page 27

A Singer's Story. By the Author of " Flitters, Tatters,

and the Counsellor." (Chapman and Hall.)—Miss Hester Dalrymple finds out that the death of the uncle with whom she has lived leaves her aunt with but a small pittance, and herself with nothing. So she has to face the old problem, "What is a girl to do ? " Naturally, she takes to governessing ; but as it comes oat that she has a magnificent contralto voice, she resolves to make singing her career. The story, which is told in an unpretending and effective way, takes us through

the vicissitudes of her preparation up to her successful debut. Written, it is clear, quite independently of Mr. Sutherland Edwards's recent novel, it agrees with it in a remarkable way. Both writers evidently know the musical world very well, and describe both its brighter and its darker side with considerable force. Hester's dark time in Path:, when means seem about to fail, and her final triumph are very vigorously drawn.