Beta, By Mrs, Bourne. 3 vols. (Ward and Downey.)—This is
one of the novels the existence of which is a standing puzzle to -us. That they should be written is easy to understand. A reviewer who has been at work for some years can have no difficulty on that score. But that anybody should be found to road them,—that is the thing that wants explanation. We are introduced to two beautiful sisters. One of them has been secretly married ; she goes mad; her mother gives her an over-strong opiate, and kills her. The other sister becomes the mistress of a rich man, marries an old lover, who does not know of her degra- dation, and is opportunely killed by a carriage accident when it is about to be discovered. We can find no humour, or pathos, or charm of style. Beta is not worse than other books of the kind. The author, we can quite believe, thinks herself to be a moralist. But where is the public that roads such books P
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