The Heir of Aylmer's Court. By M. E. James. 3
vols. (Elliot Stock.)—This novel is divided by a pretty sharp line into two parts, one of which is, it seems to us, eminently absurd ; the other is a fairly reasonable and readable tale. In the first, we have a certain Claude, who is brought over by her half-sister, and is supposed to be the "heir of Aylmer's Court." But Claude is, it turns out, a young woman, not a young man, and Aylmer's Court belongs by right to a certain Jack Aylmer. " Claimants " generally are bad enough ; but what are we to say of a female claimant, who dresses up as a man ? The sister's motive is, it turns out, to revenge herself on Mr. Jack Aylmer, who had declined the honour of marrying her in his father's time. Could a wilder scheme be imagined ? Of course it breaks down. Claude makes up her mind to tell the truth, and even without this the secret is discovered. Then comes the second part. Claude is now, so to speak, " clothed " (in woman's dress), and in her right mind. From this point the story moves briskly on. There are Italian suitors to the young lady, whose ways are pleasantly described, and indeed all the scenes of Italian life are humorous and fine. Then there is a lively American girl, who makes the action move more briskly. As it all ends with " You are still the Lady Clare," every one is satisfied; but the better we think of the second part of the story, the more astonished we are that any one capable of writing it should have been capable of writing the first.
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