Katharine Blythe. By Katharine Lee. 3 vols. (Bentley and Son.)—This
is a good novel, which would have been still better if circumstances had allowed a considerable retrenchment. The real interest of the story lies in the tragic situation of the returned lover, and it would have been well if the reader's interest had been concen- trated on that. To this end, the whole of his adventures during the period of separation should have been omitted, or told in the briefest outline. They are good enough in themselves, and would have done well enough as padding for an ordinary tale ; as it is, they seem beside the purpose. In other respects we have nothing but praise for Miss Lee's work. Katharine's three lovers are all well drawn ; so is her selfish, worldly old father, and her precise, "Mow. Grundy- fearing" sister, Anna. A writer, too, who can throw in such an admirable episode as that of the weak Janey and her faithful lover, Willy Trevaskis, has a considerable wealth of good material at her disposal.
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