Dark Rosalesn, By M. E. Francis. (Cassell and Co. 6s.)
—It is not easy to say what it is about Mrs. Blundell's work that raises it above the average love story, and saves it from sentimentality. There is certainly nothing original in the idea of an Irish Protestant who marries a girl of Catholic upbringing; and there is very little plot of any kind in the book. Its range of emotions is limited to love and religion and the strife between them; we are asked to be satisfied with little family incidents. Only twice does Mrs. Blundell make use of any vivid colours—once for the quarrel between Norah's husband and her brother, Father Pat; once, at the end, for the somewhat incredible christening of the baby ; and she is even then, restrained and low-pitched. Again, there are enough lrishisms in the story and a free enough use of such expressions as " asthore" and " Himself " to alienate any reader. We can only attribute the fact that we thoroughly enjoyed the simplicity of the story to the writer's gift of unconscious sympathy. She understands human minds, and handles them with a most gentle touch : we may smile at the ingenuous sentiments, but we cannot mock at them.
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