Mrs. Willoughby's Octave. By Mrs. Marshall. (Seeley and Co.)— The
" octave" means a family of eight children (Mrs. Marshall, like Miss Yonge, seems to like a large canvass to work upon); and the family is used gracefully, and not made, as such families sometimes are, into a weariness. Only one of the eight, David, the eldest son, is a distinct study ; but on him Mrs. Marshall has expended much pains to good purpose, and has made him a very brave, lovable hero indeed. The story of his devotion, his suffering, and the happiness to which all leads up in the end, is admirably told. We have seldom read anything more pathetic. Mrs. Marshall even succeeds in reconciling us to what she evidently feels her readers will object to,—the disparity of age between her hero and her heroine. This heroine, with her somewhat self-willed way of devoting her- self to the kindly old uncle who has to play the part of a " pecuniary providence," and the shallow, handsome George, loved, as such people often are, far more than he deserves, are all excellent sketches. On the whole, this is certainly as good a book as we have seen from Mrs. Marshall's pen, which, busy as it is, does not give any sign of failing.
Previous page
