Love's Proxy. By Richard Begot. (E. Arnold. 6s.)—Mr. Bagot, abandoning
stories about either the faith or the city of Rome, gives us in Love's Proxy an ordinary novel of society. There being nothing very new or intricate about the plot, the interest of the book depends chiefly on the character drawing. Whether the reader likes or dislikes Mr. Bagot's dramatis personae, he must at least acknowledge that they are alive. The personages of the drama are neither puppets nor clothes-horses, the brilliant young politician who nearly wrecks his career by an imprudent passion, and the heroine herself, Katherine Lorrimer, the beautiful young wife of an elderly self-made millionaire, being both well-drawn, lifelike figures. Luckily for herself, Katherine is possessed of a somewhat cold nature, and the only part of the book which ring's false is the end, when she falls in love with her husband in his blindness. The personages of the story move in the very highest circles, as is the fashion of the day, and plain esquires are at a, discount unless they are nearly related to the Peerage. But Mr. Bagot is at any rate familiar with the world about which he writes, and does not get hopelessly wrong on questions of courtesy titles, as is the case with too many " society " novelists. It is a little startling to the humble reviewer to observe the extreme plainness of speech indulged in by these great ladies in the privacy of their boudoirs. As these discourses are entirely entre femmes, it is difficult to see how Mr. Bagot has made sure of his facts.
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