Mr. Charlton. By the Author of "Anne Dysart." 3 vole.
(Hurst and Blackett.)—This is a story of an ordinary kind, such as one fancies oneself to have read many times before, and yet is not wearied in reading, told as it is with a liveliness and cleverness which do not suffer the interest to flag. Mr. Charlton is the curate-in-charge of a very stupid little place called West Branscombe, which does not at all appreciate his powers, and which he has no idea of conciliating or managing. To West Branscombe comes Renee Leveson, a young lady who has just come into a large inheritance in those parts. She does appreciate the young clergyman, and all might go well, but for a foolish woman, niece of the paralysed old rector, who fancies herself to be and makes Renee be- lieve that she is beloved by Mr. Charlton. To aid the perverse course of events, come in the efforts of a match-making lady, anxious to help her good-for-nothing brother. What troubles Renee goes through, and how she comes eut in the end, we would recommend our readers to find out for themselves. Reginald, the good-for-nothing, developes too rapidly into an unprincipled and reckless scoundrel. He was no longer young when he married, and men who have known narrow means are not apt to throw away good-fortune when they meet with it quite so madly as he does. The other characters are well drawn, not, indeed, with any striking originality, but with naturalness and force ; and the story is a good one, though the money matters are in something of a haze.
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