29 APRIL 1893, Page 13

The Making of Lawrence Westerton. By Freke Viggars. (George Allen.)—Lawrence

Westerton, going down to refresh his soul after certain weeks spent in chambers, by fishing in Devonshire, falls in with Doris Trepinnock, to whom he introduces himself by cauterising the place bitten by a viper. This is a distinct novelty in the way of introduction, and must be allowed to be an improve- ment on the sprained ankle and the surprise by the tide. The love thus begun is to be the making of the man, the chief hindrance being one Violet Vane, a young person whose position is not exactly defined, but who, one may clearly say, is more for un- making than making. There is no little merit in the story, but this merit would have been more manifest and more appre- ciated if the length had been reduced by a third.