Francesca Ho2steacl. By Reginald St. Barbe. (Digby and Long.) —This
"Tale of San Remo" gives the familiar properties of melodrama rearranged and amidst surroundings that have a certain novelty. Mr. St. Barba takes a long time to tell his story, and does not always commend his matter by his manner. When a lady is sound asleep we are told that "Morpheus was reluctant to loose his prey ; " another lady's bosom "heaves with the joy that nestles there ; " still, the author must have the credit of meaning well, and he is not one of the dismal brotherhood that seems sworn to make every story end in misery.—Alt in All. By Corinna Bruce. (Hurst and Blackett.)—Miss Bruce has something of a story to tell, but she spoils it sadly by a style that is really beyond bearing. A very few pages, indeed, of such sentences as the following pass human endurance :—" From habit, and not from cold, she drew nearer the fire, and the light from it fell on her pretty golden hair as she seated herself in a low chair imported from her own room ; for during the holidays, she deter- mined to make the school-room as much her sitting-room as possible, to avoid much of her stepfather's society; for they were hardly on friendly terms at present."—Tarraga/ ; or, Bush.Life in Australia. By E. T. Hooley. (Gay and Bird.)—This is a fairly brisk tale of adventure and sentiment in Australia. It is short, and not overloaded with words.
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