The Mistress of Brae Farm. By Rosa Nouchette Carey. (Bentley
and Son.)—Miss Carey has put too many threads into her plot. The story of Ellison Lee and Lorraine Herbert, how they labora- bent in uno, and how the matter ended, would almost have been enough. It is quite aimirable, and makes as good a piece of work as could be desired. But why the love-troubles of Ruth, and the "shilly-shallies" between Mr. Yolland and Sam Brattle ? And there is too much, we are inclined to think, about the Rev. Eric Vincent, who finally is provided with a not altogether ideal wife. The story is filled out in this manner to a really incon- venient magnitude. We calculate it would make about six of the ordinary volumes that we used to have in the novel of the past. "Humorous sadness" in the mouth of the "melancholy Jaques" did not mean sadness which has an element of mirth in it, but sadness coming from ill-humours in the body.
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