18 SEPTEMBER 1897, Page 23

A Pinchbeck Ooddess. By Mrs. J. M. Fielding. (W. Heinemann.)

—Mrs. Fielding (Alice M. Kipling) has certainly contrived in this story an excellent surprise. We do not, indeed, believe that the heroine would ever have masqueraded in such a fashion, but we acknowledge the ingenuity of the contriver of the masque. We felt, as we read, that there was a mystery somewhere, but could not find the clue. The dialogue is easy and bright, though perhaps a little too much drawn out, but about the cleverness and vigour of the writing there can be no doubt. A. story this can hardly be said to be, but what there is is distinctly powerful.