6 DECEMBER 1884, Page 45

The Double-Dutchman. By Catherine Childar. 3 vole. (Hurst and Blackett.)—This

is a most vigorous and lively story, and does the

greatest credit to Miss Childar's power of keeping up the interest of her readers. She provides herself with four heroines and two heroes besides the villain of the story, whom it is really a libel on a re- spectable nation to describe as a " Double-Dutchman." Humphrey Castleton loves his cousin Theresa, daughter of a valetudinarian old clergyman, who is one of the most amusing people in the book. He

is. himself beloved by Judith Hazlewood, who amuses us in quite another way with her vigorous speeches. Judith, in her turn, is sought by a duke, so that we have a pretty game of cross-purposes. Then

there are the love-affairs of the learned Blanche, who falls in love with a Prince, imagining him to be an Italian, but finds out, with a mixture of excitement and dismay, that be is from Hindoostan. We wish that Miss Childar could have spared us the story of Narcissi'.

This is the only disagreeable thing in the book, and very disagreeable it is. How came so worthless a creature to be the sister of high.

minded girls such as Judith and Ursula ? One of the most interesting parts of the story is to be found in Roderigo Castleton's incarceration in the lunatic asylum, and his escape therefrom.