9 AUGUST 1879, Page 23

Glen ;Wavle. By Agnes Smith. 3 vols. (Hurst and Blackett.)—

The author provides herself with two heroines, damsels of ancient lineage, of whom one is an heiress, and the other portionless ; and with two heroes, both sari howl:nes, but men of character and intern.

genco. Hence arise two love. stories, which are not unskilfully managed. There is a certain novelty about the difficulty which in one case obstructs the course of true love. The hero refuses to change his name, a slightly unreasonable net, and certainly inconsistent with the newest doctrines of the equal rights of the sexes. Why should a man object on occasion to what women do every day P But novelty must be allowed to be a merit, in those later days, when the ingenuity of novelists has exhausted all likelrcombinations of circumstances, and some of the old expedients, unhesitatingly used in bygone times, are very much discredited. A number of minor characters appear upon the stage ; some of thorn are drawn with no little skill. Tho dia- logue, too, is easy and natural, and Miss Smith shows repeatedly proof both of reading and thought. In short, this novel is somewhat above the average in merit. We feel bound to point out to the writer, as occurring in Vol. T,, p. 312, an instance of exceedingly bad-taste, which we will not do her the unkindness of quoting.