The Pearl Stringer. By Peggy Webling. (Methuen and Co. 6s.)—The
heroine of this story is the gentlest of girls, brimming over with unselfishness. It is a merit of the author that the character is not colourless or merely negative. Her romance comes with the honourable friendship of an elderly widower, a retired Anglo-Indian of some social distinction. His kindness brings intellectual interests and happiness into her life. It is probably true to life that their companionship should, on his part at any rate, be devoid of both sentimentality and thoughts of marriage, but it is sad that he should be killed and she be left with the prospect of stringing pearls for the rest of her life. There is not much plot so far as this heroine is concerned, but mingled with her story is that of her friend (and foil), Rose, who has a passionate love-affair with an attractive, unprincipled young man. She learns eventually the value of her husband's love, though outwardly he appears a dull, middle-aged dentist. The minor characters are delightfully drawn. Miss Webling convinces us of her sympathy with them all, and of her knowledge of their lives. As she generally takes trouble with her language, it is especially hard on those who like her work to jar them suddenly with such a phrase as this : " Rostron, a little uncomfortable by having Miss Grey wait oa bin . . ."
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