Jaunty in Charge. By Mrs. George Wemyee. (Constable and Co.
6s.)—Here is an example of the dialogue of Mrs. Wemyse's latest novel "' Shall you put a cow in the fore- ground? One hardly likes to put a bull, because of Paul Potter—but he was oils.' It might be dangerous, even in water-colour; besides it's Mrs. Baker's cabbage-patch—the foreground, I mean. It is difficult.' ' They're easiest lying down,' said Janet kindly." Conversation so brilliant and quivering as this leaves us conscious of fatigue, and of a desire for plainer diet, and no one must attempt to consume much of it at a time; for all that, the book is undeniably attractive and the village of Panslea a place of enviable kindliness and happiness. Here live Anne Beech, set by her brother to " look after" the adorable Sally, and Janet, who is "looking after" Anne Beech, and the motherless, lovable Lewrences, and Jaunty, who, though he is a bad butler, is an admirable guardian angel to them all. Although this scheme sounds sentimental and rather unreal, the writer has too swift
• sense of humour ever to be affected. Under her romance are tears, and behind the tears a twinkle of laughter. If, behind the laughter, there were hard common-sense, the range of emotions would be complete. But, as it stands, it is all a little effervescent.
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