NEW NOVELS. * IN Mrs. Hubback's Old Vicarage there is a

distinct conception of character, an agreeable though somewhat diffuse style, and a quiet power in exhibiting scenes of emotion rather than passion, to which last she scarcely rises. Social manners the writer may not attain, but her pictures of society are sufficiently vraisem- blable to pass scrutiny. The distinctive point in her novel is the introduction of religion as a pervading theme, but without the serious not to say gloomy or extreme views that have given almost a theological character to some fictions, or the cant- mg manner that has disfigured certain tales, whose writers ap- pear to have looked at religion as a "good card."

But although not disfiguring the narrative, Mrs. Hubback's religious views rather disadvantageously influence the story, at least in its leading events. The respective influence of religion or irreligion on conduct, and the power of faith in producing hap- piness independently of external circumstances, seem to be the ideas the writer would illustrate. In effecting this, she may not have recourse to what are called "judgments,' but she depends for her denouement too much upon accidents, and in one instance pushes her illustrative example to a degree which will be dis- tasteful to those novel-readers who like a happy ending. Neither does there seem much poetical justice in the accident which eventually causes the death of Captain Hepburn while rescuing some women from a fire. The events of a fiction in the hands of an artist are not matter of arbitrary will or literary convenience, but spring from the previous circumstances of the story, or the nature of the person whose final fortune is to be affected. To let a villain lead a. successful and satisfied life till he is cut off suddenly by some extemporized process, is not poetical justice ; that consists in showing how the temporary successes of the wicked carry with them their own sting, and that he fails at last through some fail- ure in his own schemes.

There are various persons with various interests or stories in The Old Vicarage, but the conspicuous characters are two— Hilary Hepburn and Charles Huyton. Charles is handsome, rich, accomplished, and not devoid of some of the good qualities of what may be called the natural man ; but he is without religion, with- out good principles, and his better qualities, based on nothing more than impulse and feeling, break down as soon as they are brought to the test. He proposes to Hilary, who refuses him ; and then, having no sustaining principle, he resolves on vengeance upon somebody. Spite of Hilary's efforts, he persists in marrying Dora Barham, between whom and Hilary's brother Maurice there is an unavowed attachment. Brain-fever to Dora, and finally loss of memory and mental power, follow the ceremony. Her husband, forbidden by the physicians even to see her, goes abroad ; where he is brought to perceive the error of his ways. Returning to discharge what duties he may, he is upset in landing from his

*The Old Vicarage : a Norel. By Mrs. Ifubback, Authoress of '7e Wife's Sister," 4e. In three volumes. Published by Skeet. Beyminstre. By the Author of " Lena," 4c. In three volumes. Published by Smith and Elder.

Diamonds and Dust ; being Grains from the Wands of Society a Novel. In thfee volumes. Published by Newby. yacht; and, though rescued from drowning, he is so shattered by the concussion that recovery is impossible. Maurice Hepburn attends upon the dying man, and sends for Hilary ; who comes, not knowing who she is to see. "The door and window were both open, and the pleasant breeze streamed in with the morning sunbeams, which fell on Hilary as she stood contem- plating the couple within the room. Her brother was sitting beside tho bed holding the hand of his patient, but his back was to the door. "Supported by pillows, and evidently labouring for breath, the sick man lay with his face towards her ; but as his eyes were closed, he was not aware of her presence. The flush a fever was on his cheek, the contraction of pain on his brow his countenance seemed the home of sad unquiet thoughts; a thick curled beard and moustache of dark auburn concealed the lower part of his face, whilst the bandage across his forehead gave a more ghastly expression to his sunken eyes. Yet even in those worn and painstruck fea- tures she thought she recognized a something familiar, a something which sent her memory back to her girlhood and her forest-home. He slowly opened his eyes, and said, in a low feeble voice, Maurice, I should like to see—Hilary !' added he, in a tone of wild surprise, starting from his pil- lows, as his eyes fell on her. The effort was too much ; he sank back, over* powered by weakness, whilst shadows of agony and terror seemed to cross his face.

"'My mind wanders,' said he, placing his hand over his brow Mau- rice, I thought I saw your sister—just as she was in the forest—the first time we met.'

"No wonder he was thus deluded ; for as she stood there with the glow on her cheek from the fresh morning air' with her brown hair smoothly parted on her forehead, her simple bonnet and plain black dress, she looked so calm, so youthful, so like the Hilary of his happiest hours, he could hardly suppose her a reality : could years have made so little change in her, so much in himself ?

"She approached, and placed her fingers on the only hand he had at liberty ; the other lay helpless by his side. "'It is I, myself,' said she, in her low gentle voice. Do not be dia., turbed, Mr. Huyton.' "She saw it all at once : it was the friend of his youth, the very man who had so deeply injured him, that Maurice had been nursing all night.

" Are you come too ? ' said he, in a broken voice as he fixed his dark glowing eyes on her ; 'are you come to see me die Angel, whom I have so deeply injured ; whose sad path in life I have made still sadder ! Are you come to bless or to curse me with your presence? Can you forgive me now ? ' " ' Forgive ! ah yes—as I would be forgiven—lonz, long ago I forgave !..t " ' What a wretch I have been ! Yet I thought I loved you! and it was love, earnest, real love, till your rejection turned it into bitterness. Oh, if I had but listened to your pleading; yielded to your mild remonstrances, Maurice, tell her that I have repented.' " Hilary will believe it, I am sure, Charles,' replied Maurice : 'do not exhaust yourself by emotion.' "Let me talk—my end is near. Listen. I was wild, frantic with grief and remorse ; horror-stricken at the wreck I had made of Dora's happiness, vainly repenting when too late—when—ah Hilary ! forgive me—when as you were once more free, I found myself fettered to her—poor thing! Miserable, I wandered from country to country—till I met with one who taught me better, a true minister of the gospel, who taught me better, and sent me home to my duty—too long neglected. I intended to do right—I meant to try and remedy, so far as I could, the miserable past : my first step was to see Maurice. and ask his pardon. I came here and now I am dying—it is the only thing which can really repair my crimes. To hear him speak forgiveness has been my best comfort. Now let me die l' 6C a tears fell fast over the hand she held in hers." • The story of Beyminstre is not of a very substantial kind, and it turns upon a sentiment, the hero having a morbid 6iglike to marry a woman with a large fortune. Perhaps a little pique as well as a great deal of pride may induce Alban Willingham to break off his engagement with Regina Howard, when Beyminstre and its do- main is left to her instead of himself, (as he. has been all his life expecting,) through the deeply-wounded feelings of his uncle. The story of these feelings constitutes the romance and mystery of the early part of the tale. The change of behaviour towards the rich minor in the provincial society that once looked down upon her, and the various beaus who court her for her money; make up the large middle portion of the story ; the end may *ha read in the book.

The early part of the novel is the most interesting, for its vivid and truthful pictures of characters and rural scenes, mingled with touches of nice and graceful marking. The reader is carried to a small country town and its " neighbourhood " is introduced to the little jealousies and party feelings of its little great people; and is made acquainted with .a rare but lifelike character, Ur Winter the musician,—a man whose kindly nature, elevated love of art, courteous manners, and real independence of spirit, look like a transcript from the artist of an elder time, when simple-minded men lived. primarily for art or learning, and. took pelf or, even fame as secondary matters. The quiet country life of Regina and her grandmother, the visit of Alban's mother, and. the growth of the attachment between Regina and himself, are all very prettily done ; possessing, notwithstanding some melodramatio touches, the reality of every-day life, removed from its flatness. The en- dowment of Regina with Beyminstre, and the management of the more romantic sequences, are not very probable ; but their utility counterbalances their unlikelihood. They furnish means of painting concealed emotion and exhibiting high society, which are not adequately taken advantage of; so that the interest, in- stead of rising, appears to fall off somewhat as the story advances. The literary merit is considerable throughout, but shows itself more especially in the earlier parts. Here is a sketch of Winny Hopper, a not rare character in country places,—a disappointed, malicious, managing, active old maid. "I really believe, and I'm making a great concession, that Whiny wanted to go to heaven by and by—there was no hurry ; but she wanted to have it all her own way upon earth as well. To accomplish this twofold end, she took up the pious line of business. She gave a great deal of her time, int/ a very little of her money, to the wants of her poorer neighbours : she had been attached in her day to a good many clergymen, and this habit of mbul gave her always a friend at head-quarters ; for clergymen, like other mew,

have no objection to be adored, although, like other men, they really can- not accept every lady who makes them an offer. Winny made them a good many offers—with her eyes, be it understood—which for some years had rolled their sugary glances upon her reverend friends in vain. "Winny was the happiest creature on the face of the globe ; and, I am afraid I must add, the meanest—she was neither sick nor sorry.

"When she lost her relations, it was of no consequence : if they went on badly, she wrapped the cloak of her selfishness more closely round her ; and, so long as they didn't spend her money, which they would have found it Itard to do, she left it all to Providence, like a pious soul as she was, and book care not to fret. Ten years ago if you had been called upon to point out the most insignificant being in Mehl:mood, you would have mentioned Winny; now she ruled the village, ruled the charities, ruled the clubs and schools: but she could not rule Mrs. Arnold—and so she hated her instead. She hated Regina, as Mrs. Arnold's grandchild; she hated the Winters, as her early friends ; she hated even Becky Halliday, Mrs. Arnold's cook and housekeeper; and Winny was a good hater, if she was good at nothing else.

" She had still a deeper reason for the bitter feelings with which she re- garded Regina Howard. It was not by any means her fault that she was not Regina's mamma."

The " novel " of Diamonds and Dust is less a story, in its better parts, than a series of sketches, embracing pictures of town or coun- try scenery, with figures ; discussions upon literature, art, politics, and the progress of society, thrown into the form of dialogue ; and some embodiment of contemporary events—as an election. The framework in which these things are displayed is not ill adapted to the object, but it is rather singular than general. A young lord, who appears to have emerged from the pecuniary difficulties in which his gambling father was involved, assembles around him at his country mansion some half-dozen of his most regarded school- fellows, all of them young men of promise in their particular Ways. The presence of Lord Danecroft's sister, Lady Ethel, and

young friend, with a lady or two from the neighbourhood, furnish heroines. The story, however, scarcely gets afloat till the reader is through one half of the work ; and when reached, it is of the regular Minerva press kind,—an estate lost by the want of proof of a marriage ; with vengeance, cupidity, and other evil passions, adding to the legal difficulty.

In a literary sense Diamonds and Dust may be described as very good in a second-rate way. The sketches are clever, with a degree of reality and freshness about them ; but the cleverness is

of the kind we meet with in the lesser magazines and serial novels. The style is forcible, and not devoid of vivacity; but both force and vivacity are somewhat strained, after the fashion of the imi- tators of Douglas Jerrold. and Dickens, though the author does not seem to have taken either of those writers for models. There is thought and observation of life in the book, but not of a first-rate tone. The treatment of the story-matter is also clever, but not, we suspect, of a kind to produce an effect equal to the cleverness. The disquisitions, and other matters of an episodical cast, are not sufficiently broad or deep for those who are interested in cri- ticism or speculation, while they will rather impede the mere novel-reader.