Lola: A Tale of the Rock. By Arthur Griffiths. 3
vole. (Smith and Elder.)—This novel is clever and entertaining in no common degree. The "Rock," it will be understood, is Gibraltar ; and Lola is a beauty of that place, half-Spanish, half-English by race. Whether she is the more charming at home, when courted by the dashing young soldier who is the hero of the story, or in England, where she is sent out of the way of her lover, it would be difficult to say. The picture of her in the country house, where she is the guest of the three aristocratic old ladies with whose family she claims some mysterious kinship, is. charming. In fact, Lola, as Mr. Griffiths has drawn her, is one of the greatest successes that we have seen for some time. It is a portrait so good, that we are careless about the merit of the accessories. The other characters, however, are sketched with quite sufficient vigour. We prefer, perhaps, the foreigners to the natives. The Spanish family at Aqua. Dulce, whither, the English banishment having failed of its purpose,. Lola is sent for safe custody, is an admirable sketch of the slighter kind. There is nothing very complicated or original about the plot, but it is interesting enough to serve its purpose. The lover's adventures in the third volume are particularly well told. Mr. Griffith is especially copious in his use of proverbs, of which he has a stock that reminds up, of Sancho Panza. This is one of the instances which show his careful study of Spanish life. Lola is, in short, a novel to be strongly recom- mended for every reason. A tale more lively, better in tone, more worthy of being read, and more readable, we have not seen for some time.,
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