The O'Shaughnessy Girls. By Rosa Mulliolland. (Blackie and Son. 6s.)—There
are two pairs of " O'Shaughnessy Girls." Two fashionable matrons in London are one pair; it is with the love affairs and general life-story of the other pair, Bell and Lavender, that we are concerned. The most effective part of this story is the narrative of Bell's experiences when, smitten with stage fever, she tries to make her living upon the stage. This is a common form of madness, and it is quite possible that this book may be found useful. And the whole tale is a good one. Perhaps the adventures of Jim, otherwise Mr. Cyprian Hackenthorpe, may tax the reader's powers of belief, but this need not interfere with his pleasure.—Less than Kin, by Elizabeth Ker (S.P.C.K, is. 6d.), is another story in which girls, but of a humbler station, have a prominent part. A morose old man, with a designing housekeeper, takes Lynn Osborne into his house. One question, of course, is : what will he do with his money ? and there are other interesting problems. This is certainly a pleasant story.—Yet another is Rue Esterby, by Amy Whipple (R.T.S., 2s.) This is described as a story of "Failure and Victory," the two chief characters being the sisters Felicia and Rue. The reader will be not a little interested in finding out how the sub-title applies to them. One thing we venture to say : would it not be well to leave out the passage in which Rue advises her married sister as to a certain admirer? We have more than enough of that sort of thing in the novels of to-day.
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