MAUDE TALBOT. * GREAT power of delineation is the principal trait

of Maude Talbot. There is some novelty in the story, or rather in the character of Maude, which may be said to produce and govern the leading in- cidents. The incidents themselves are not remarkable for ori- ginality; and though the social subject matter relates to contem- porary topics, it is not drawn from the author's observation but from the observation of others; the condition of the poor, and the uninten- tional though selfish negligence of the rich, forming, for exam- ple, a leading topic. The dramatis personae are delineated with consistency and very remarkable force ; but both they and their manners want life. They are rather inventions than " imitations " in the critical sense. They are so far individual that they have very distinct traits of their own, and differ in a marked degree from one another, but they are not types of a class, or persons whom we encounter in life, though we may have met something very like them in novels. Hence, the work is one of power, but of intellectual rather than passionate interest. The mind is at- tracted rather than the feelings excited. We are drawn rather than driven on by the story ; and some of the deepest parts do not create a sympathy in proportion to their depth, probably because the author is bent upon producing effects rather than touching the feelings. And he does not always adopt the best means ; the strain and elaboration of Dickens and the writer of "Two Old Men's Tales" being the models on which he seems to have formed his style, with some exaggerations of his own.

The elements of the fiction wear the character of thought or book-study, rather than observation of actual life. Pride of family carried to extreme is the "idea " of the book. The orphan Maude Talbot is so inflated with the glories of her lineage, that she trifles with the man she loves and rejects him, and opposes the attachment of her younger sister, for no other than ancestral or heraldic motives. A similar feeling is a cause of Maude's neglect- ing her duties both as town and country landlord ; though this fea- ture is rather snperadded to the main story, and is not carried to so great an extent. Her failing, however, is scarcely one of the day. There may be plenty of pride about, but it hardly takes the form of rejecting respectable lovers of public figure on account of some family elevation especially in a young woman in love. Neither are the old families conspicuous for neglecting their own tenants, though they may be indifferent to the tenants of other people. In fact, the leading vice of the age runs the other way ; it is the "darling sin," the "pride that apes humility." There are lighter passages in the book than those directly con- nected with the fate of Maude ; and so far as lifelike character is concerned these are better than the graver parts, probably because there is less striving after effect. This is a specimen of the more everyday kind of matter.

• hfaude Talbot. By Holme Lee. In three volumes. Published by Smith and Elder. " They drove to the Park. This to .Tuliet was the high road of happiness, but to Maude the crowd of strange faces was bewildering.

" Juliet chatted incessantly.

" 'There is the Castertons. Oh, what a fright ! Vache espagnole ! Did you ever see such a bonnet, mamma ? a la Madame Noah. Did you think Cecy Dobbs looking well today ? I thought her positively hideous. Mamma, there is Lord Linnet—Billy Button riding to Brentford ! How can such a poppet be so absurd as to stick himself on that tall horse ! Did you ever see such a comical little figure ? Oh, dear ! he is coming this way.'

"Juliet smoothed her face into a fashionable insipidity, as the young Peer came up beside the carriage. "

Oh! ah ! hot day—very hot. How do, Miss Juliet ? ' lisped the tiny Lord, without once removing his round greenish eyes from Maude's face, where they had fixed themselves as soon as he had caught sight of her. Sir James well, hope. Go to th' opera tonight ? Grisi fine singer—fine woman too.'

"

'Yes; are you ?' briefly asked Juliet.

" Ah ! oh, yes ! I think I shall look in for half an hour or so. That Dobbs girl asked me ; s'pose I must go.' " 'Oh, fie! to speak of pretty Cecy as "that Dobbs girl!" '

" Oh ! ah ! Miss Juliet, they are not my set; but, as you say, Cecy is pretty.'

"Juliet looked vinegar and verjuice at him. Lord Linnet saw he had said something wrong, and he stammered worse than ever.

" Why, they say she is pretty ; but I don't like those dollish, painted- looking trifles.' And the Peer grinned at his own puny wit. Juliet was mollified, and smiled too.

"'Here is Salford coming. Do you know him ? You should. He just asked me who you were : asked me to introduce him. Is it agreeable, Lady Clare ?' still with his eyes on Maude's face. Lady Clare bowed a gracious assent, and, in return for his good-nature, presented him to Maude. "Linnet cantered off to Salford, and, returning to the carriage, performed the ceremony of introduction ; placing himself by Juliet, and leaving to the Marquis the side on which sat Maude.

"Lady Clare, reclining in the corner of her luxurious carriage, was in a state of great beatitude. She had already (mentally) led the Marquis of Sal- ford and her husband's late ward in triumph to the altar, and presented the fair hand of Juliet to Lord Linnet. Like a sensible woman, she did not aspire to things out of her reach, and so lose all ; she did not despise small things. For her own children she knew the ducal coronet unattainable, but for Maude Talbot she devoutly believed nothing too exalted ; therefore, in the gratified feeling which pervaded her heart at this introduction to a per- son whom she had rarely met and never hoped to know, she did not fancy that her own charms had wrought the good deed, but gave the credit where it was due, namely, to her young guest's beauty. And this event rather in- creased than lessened her urbanity to Lord Linnet ; whom Juliet, to her shame be it spoken, felt rather inclined to snub, whilst the tall aristocratic Marquis was in attendance on them ; but her politic mamma frowned her resolutely into propriety of demeanour.

"Lady Clare was a perfectly happy woman when the Marquis requested permission to call occasionally in Park Lane. She granted the request a ith the most amiable dignity, and rave the order to drive home with a pleasant flutter at her heart, which told her she was the most fortunate of mammas and eha erons

"Maude, too, had some busy thoughts in her head, which Juliet hastened to unravel for her as soon as they reached home, and were cosily seated in the boudoir. This time her chatter was more welcome.

" 'Fortunate girl!' exclaimed Juliet, to think that your very first ap- pearance should enlist such an admirer in your train. So exclusive, too, as he is, and so proud. He has been heard to say there is but one woman in the world he could ever wish to marry, and that one he could not have : I think you will make him change his opinion, Maude.

"'Pray do not indulge yourself in any visions on my account,' replied Maude, laughing : have no ambition to be any woman's successor. " ! you would be all women's envy,' exclaimed Juliet, gaily. " That is a strange kind of inducement, certainly,' laughed Maude. " Well, we shall see, lie is to call here, and mamma wants to ask him to dine: but papa won't like it ; he never can get on with those very aris- tocratic people; but on your account he will not mind it.' " 'I should not wish to put Sir James to the slightest inconvenience. Oh, Juliet! how very soon you precise girls wind up matters for your acquaint- ance. I dare say now, in your own mind, you have settled what you will wear on the momentous occasion that transforms me from Maude Talbot into Marchioness of Salford ; although we have been introduced to him only this afternoon, and have only talked for the space of twenty minutes.'

" To be sure I have ! What would become of us, butterflies of fashion, if we might not build castles in the air for ourselves and our friends. I as- sure you it is my chief business. When I amat a boll I do_it ; all the morn- ing during visits, which are generally so tedious; in the Park, the Gardens, everywhere; even when mamma thinks I am studying that botany book, which is to make me an agreeable companion to my Lord Linnet, poor little goose ! at the next horticultural fête.' " 'Is it possible that you can think of marrying a man you plainly de- spise? ' " 'Assuredly—if he give me the chance. It is our vocation ; we must either marry or sink down into old maidism and obscurity ; for which I at least have no taste. Papa can only give us moderate fortunes; we can never play the part of chatelaines, as you, Lady of Houghton, can do in great state, married or single. I myself am of an independent spirit, but I shall have no objection to be turned into Lady Linnet or Lady Anything-else very speedily. We are none of us so young as we have been, you know : Sara is very near old-maid's corner.' "'Then I wish you success in your wooing. Lord Linnet is an inoffen- sive little man, it seemed to me. But whilst you are plotting, why not make the coronet-matrimonial of Netherby the object of your schemes, at once " Why not? because I have more sense, to be sure. Salford is a man of experience ; a man who has loved Annie Carey will not give her a Juliet Clare for a successor.'

"'You are modest in your estimate of your own merits, at all events,' said Maude, laughing quietly.

" ' Well, there is no use pretending that I think myself handsome, for I do not; but you, if you like—if you will take the trouble, at least, may be Salford's wife, or anybody else's. You know there is no better blood in England than yours ; that your fortune has few equals ; and as for your beauty, your glass must be far more eloquent on that subject than I can