A Man of Moods. By H. D. Lowry. (Bliss, Sands,
and Co.)—A certain literary man, Holden by name, is seized by a sudden dis- gust for London and its ways. He will lead a simpler life, and decides to try Scilly, to which he is attracted by a chance meeting with a dealer in early flowers from the islands. The Scilly flower-dealer has a niece who has as great a longing for London as Holden for the country. That is the first situation of the story ; how it develops itself we will leave our readers to discover for themselves. Meanwhile we may assure them that their labour will be well repaid. The tale is a really good piece of work, simple and wholesome, and with true dramatic force in it.— Dorcas Hobday. By Charles Rokeby. (Long-mans and Co.)— Dorcas is the daughter of a man who has committed a great wrong, and she suffers for a fault that is not her own. The law of "the fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are not on edge" is carried out in her life to the bitter end. Still there is, on the other side, a truth which the pro- phet asserted when he declared, "Ye shall no more use this proverb in IsraeL" The really strong man or woman asserts himself against the hereditary fate. If CEdipus had been blameless the curse would not have touched him. Dorcas Hobday is a powerful story, but, it is scarcely necessary to say, not attractive.—Forestwyk ; or, Ten Years After. By Elizabeth Boyd Bayly. (Jarrold and Sons.)—Those who have read "Zachary Brough's Venture" with pleasure should not fail to follow it up with this sequel. The story will also interest readers who have not happened to come across the first part. Forestioyk is a little too long, but it has sterling merit.—Armenosa of Egypt. By Charles Henry Butcher, D.D. (W. Blackwood.)—This "romance of the Arab Conquest" is a carefully studied and well-written piece of work. The decrepit Christianity of Egypt, with its fierce theological hatreds, representing so little real faith, is vigorously described, and contrasts strongly with the strength of the new religious force that came upon it and overthrew it. The story is interesting, though we are too long delayed in getting to the real action. And there are some fine descriptions.
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