The Runaway: a Story for the Young. By the Author
of "Mrs. Jerningham*s journaL" (Macmillan.)—This is a very charming little story, one that will suit children of all ages, except, perhaps, the very young, who may take it too seriously ; and except those of an unusually critical turn of mind, who will notice that the author is too often 3vholly regardless of the laws of probability. We are introduced, in the first place, to the daughter of a London merchant, who lives with her father and a governess at an easy distance by rail from the City, and has a passionate longing for something romantic. While she muses over the uneventful nature of her life, she is surprised by a strange girl who has rem away from a school in Yorkshire, and who inaists on being hidden. With the hiding of this odd little girl all kinds of adventures begin. First, the servants hear unaccountable noises, then they see a ghost, then the police begin to make inquiries, and at length a magistrate has to be called in. Much as we are amused by the infinite variety of tricks and disguises in which the runaway indulges, we must observe that the author is sometimes forced to resort to - violent measures in order to keep up the mystery. The ghost appears too openly, and sober, common-place people like the governess are:too easily frightened. Above all, when the secret is on the point of being discovered, a dens ex machind appears in the shape of a telegram,rand keeps off too early a denouement. However, we must accept the story as a charming piece of fantastic invention, and refrain from criticising too minutely what we thoroughly enjoyed.
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