Cornelius. By Mrs. Henry de In Pasture. (Smith, Elder, and
Co. 6a)—The phrase which would. occur to most readers when asked to describe this book would . be' an old-fashioned story." We should use it with an intention of very' high praise. Cornelius is the kind of book to which one settles down after the experi- ence of a few pages with the couvictiott of a pleasant time to come, a book which makes one feel sorry, as we near the end, to see how little remains. There is a suspense, not too agitating, and a surprise, which, though it is ,certainly a little out of the way, is skilfully contrived The 'hero is a quite admirable figure; we have not come across Anything so picturesque and genuinely original for e long time. He is the centre of a little company of cousins, all of them carefully drawn, and playing their several parts with distinction. There is indeed a little tendency to caricature the disagreeable people, Mrs. Mortice, for,instance, perse-preud and selfish-and, the too "usable" com'panion. But
,
the two sisters, Anne and Lilies, are favourites, and as charming: as favourites should be.
Previous page
