Through a Needle's Eye. By Hesba Stretton. (R.T.S. 3s. 6c1.)—
Miss Stretton tells her story with a full share of her accustomed force. The hero's stepfather on his deathbed bids him destroy the will which would disinherit his half-brother; and he finds that the old man has made a mistake, and that the document still exists. Such mistakes are familiar "properties" in fiction, and may be accepted without demur. Anyhow, an interesting story is con- structed out of the situation. We do not like all the details. The scene between Richard and Leah Dart is neither natural nor pleasing, and it is not improved by that which follows it. For what readers is this tale written ? But the story of the problem which Justin Webb has to solve is conceived in a finer spirit, and we can speak of it with high praise.—Between Two Opinions. By Mary E. Palgrave. (Same publishers. 2s.)— Miss Palgrave uses a curious method of story-telling. In Scene I. Frank Elliston makes the acquaintance of Alethea Mordaunt. In Scene II. they are engaged. In Scene III. she breaks off the engagement on account of incompatibility of views. In Scene IV. they are reconciled. Is not this some- what disjointed? And why the unnecessary pain inflicted by killing the helpful friend ? This is a clumsy way of attaining the pathetic—A Wilful Ward. By Ruth Lamb. (Same publishers. 2s. 6d.)—There is little to be said about this story, which is constructed on familiar lines. Kathleen Mountford seems to have good sense and high principle, even to be ruled by religious motives, but she cannot resist the fascinations of the worthless "Captain Jack." That is not unlikely, and Miss Lamb has devised an attraction in the person of an affectionate boy, the Captain's son. Kathleen's interest in him gradually is extended to the father. How it all ends our readers may discover for themselves.—The House that Grew. By Mrs. Moleswortb. (Macmillan and Co. 4s. 6d.)—It seems to be Mrs. Mole.sworth's special delight to see how small a piece of material she can work out into a fair-sized volume. Mr. and Mrs. Lanark lose some money, and have to give up their house ; two of their children— one of them is supposed to tell this story—have the idea that the family might live in the hut that they have for a playing place. This is "the house that grew," and is practically the story, filled in with details as Mrs. Molesworth knows how to fill it. It is prettily done, and there is an excellent dog-story at the end which goes to make up the somewhat scanty weight.— No. 6, Victoria Ward. By Jessie Armstrong. (R.T.S. Is. 6d.)—This is a very pretty story of a lost child. There has, of course, to be a coincidence—stories can hardly be told without coincidences— but no one, we venture to say, will quarrel with it. The tale is well constructed ; and all the characters in it are cleverly drawn, with a very lifelike look. Altogether the book is one of the best of its class. And we may say that it is "up to date." For are not the Röntgen rays cleverly introduced ?
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