29 SEPTEMBER 1894, Page 28

An Interloper. By F. M. Peard. 2 vols. (Bentley and

Son.) —The " interloper " is a girl, the daughter of a wealthy bourgeois, who marries into the family of the Beaudrillarts. She is well-educated, she is beautiful, and her money saves the ancient heritage of the Beaudrillarts from imminent ruin ; but she is, of course, much looked down upon, and Lion Beaudrillart, her husband, is too much wanting in backbone to help her much either against the old dragon, his mother, or the young dragon, his sister. But her time comes. The Beaudrillart race is threatened by a danger greater than the want of money, and it is her courage and truthfulness that comes to the rescue. Miss Peard tells the story from beginning to end with much skill. Lion's wrongdoing, it might not unreasonably be objected, was hardly a thing that he would be likely to do. But, granted the situation, the working-out of the drama is excellently managed. Of the accessories, not one is better than the ddvote, Felicie, who believes that all things will go right if you take pains enough with the Church embroideries.