Raymond's Polly. By E. St. John Leigh. (Elliot Stock.)— This
is a book which recalls far too readily the Shakespearian "slight, unmeritable man, meet to be sent on errands." It is a well-intentioned, genuinely though not intrusively religious, and tolerably well-written story. But, it is woefully commonplace in plot and in incident. Raymond Hayles's " folly " consists in not marrying Olive Brenacombe, who was "a perfect woman nobly planned" in many ways, but not to "command." In other words, she "was no angel," she was only a woman. She was not even a laint. According to the teaching of her favourite poet, she slieved "that it was man-like to fall into sin, but only demon- ist° remain therein." He marries Madge, a.weaker and more
h girl, and—evidently because it is his nature to—neglects
sb Olive appears for a time heart-broken; but ultimately tao esoled by Raymond's much better and morally stronger hilyirhen Olive admits her second engagement to Raymond by eiciaiibimself in his true light as a cub, or rather cur, money that It shows what a sneak you are. But it's the bunter.. Her6clone it. Every one knows you are a money. ending. It is of will be seen, we have a very commonplace being we11_inteni2ece, however, with the story, which, besides of such oniatanding econtains several good characters, but none been taken in writthg iallt. ence as to justify the trouble that has
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