A Conspiracy of Silence. By George Colmore. (Heinemann.)— A considerable
amount of cleverness is exhibited in the con- struction of this story, but it is marred by straining after effect, and the linked misery in it is most uncoascionably long drawn out. The main idea is almost incredibly revolting. That Eustace Sotheran, passionately in love with Charlotte March, should conceal from her the fact that there is hereditary insanity in his family, in case the discovery should prevent their marriage, is barely possible. But that Charlotte's mother, made aware of Sothers.n's peril by George Heigh, should have taken part in the conspiracy against her daughter's happiness, is surely wildly improbable. The story of the opening of Charlotte's eyes is told with consider- able power but almost sickening detail. Mr. Colmore is an able writer, but he is not a good. realist. Probably, indeed, he is but a half-hearted one. If he were not, why should he be at the trouble, in his last chapter, to indicate the possibility of happi- ness being in store for Charlotte after the death of her husband ?
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