A Passing Madness. By Florence Marryat. (Hutchinson and Co.)—This is
a study, after the manner which the author has lately taken up, of physiology and psychology combined. Edward Marshall and Joan are twins, and the tale is constructed, in part, on the curious sympathy that often exists between twins. Edward takes to drink, and develops symptoms of insanity, which make it expedient that he should be put under control, and Joan's temper and feelings are tried in various ways by this condition of things. The inquest, when a contretemps relating to the administration of chloral leads to fatal results, is vigorously described.—Did He Deserve It? By Mrs. J. H. Riddell. (Downey and Co.)—" " is Mr. Moncell, a very shifty and unscrupulous man of letters, who lives from hand to mouth, and is not very ;areful what he picks up and how he gets hold of it. Then there is a publishing firm which employs Mr. Moncell as a reader ; there is his daughter, who fills the part of heroine, and a number of children, who serve no particular purpose beyond supplying a certain amount of padding for the story. The book is readable enough, and the peeps behind the scenes in the book-trade are curious, but the book as a whole is below the level of Mrs. Riddell's best work.
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