In the Closed Room. By Frances Hodgson Burnett. Illustra- tions
by Jessie Wilcox Smith. (Hodder and Stoughton. 3s. 6d.) —Judged by its illustrations alone, Mrs. Hodgson Burnett's graceful story, In the Closed Room, would be classed with books for children. But most emphatically should it be said that the book is not a suitable one for a child to read. The idea is that over the young life of Judith Foster hangs the doom—in a manner the inherited doom—of early death. She is dreamy and thoughtful, living apart from the robust everyday life of her American working-class parents. And the mother recognises the difference with wistful foreboding. Suddenly a secret relation of affinity and sympathy establishes itself between Judith and another little girl in very different social circumstances. The little rich girl visits Judith in a dream. Then the chances of life make Judith's parents caretakers in the house where the dream-girl's picture hangs. The house has its sorrow unknown to the caretakers ; and it has its closed room, visited by the spirit of the dead litttle girl and mysteriously penetrated by the living one. The mystical conception is delicately carried out, and recalls Mrs. Oliphant's handling of spirit-themes. The illustrations are exceptionally charming, and the margins of the letterpress are daintily decorated. The book is altogether one of the prettiest of the season.
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