The Caddis-Worm. By C. A. Dawson Scott. (Hurst and Blackett.
6e.)—When the intelligent reader discovers that both the doctor hero of this story and his mother have what is commonly known as "a past" he will be inclined to muse on the persistency of heredity. The story is written from a decidedly feminine point of view, and the attitude of Kate Blake, the doctor's wife, who contemplates using the illegality of her marriage to separate her children from their father, is much admired by the author. The real wife of the doctor is not the deserted wife of old fiction, but the deserting wife of modern days, who prefers developing her own individuality— in a perfectly respectable manner—to keeping her marriage rows. This unfortunate lady, however, dies of an operation two days after Kate has discovered her existence, bat Kate still hesitates whether to continue her life with her husband, although he has recently inherited £40.000 a year. Much the best thing in. the book is the character of Dr. Blake himself, who, although exceedingly dictatorial and unreason- able, is yet made attractive by his warm-heartedness and his energy and vitality.
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