28 JULY 1888, Page 23

we like it all the better because it does not

make us think. There are people in the story who behave well, and people who behave ill. There are various characters,—an accomplished young diplomatist, a somewhat boorish country squire, and a rascally young spendthrift, all of whom are excellently diavrn ; and on the female side, a terrible old aunt, a very worldly and selfish cousin, and the charming Chris herself. We like to read about them all ; but they do not really interest us, not so much, perhaps, as Chris's dog Peter,' who is one of the most amusing and generally admirable of his kind. A very curious similarity in the opening reminded us of a novel, reviewed in these columns some four years ago, " The Perfect Path," by Miss Elizabeth Chester. Any one who may remember or look back to that book will see what we mean by the complaint that Mr. Norris's men and women, excellently drawn as they are, do not possess souls.