Influence. By Mrs. Brookfield. 2 vols. (Chapman and Hall).— Comparing
the novel before us with the only one of Mrs. Brookfield's which we can remember, "Only George," itself a work of some merit, we note a considerable advance. Influence at once makes itself felt as a book of character. There is no danger of confounding it with the ordi- nary run of novels, there is no danger of forgetting it. The central personage in it is one "Cecilia," a certain Miss Bickersteth, who by virtue of a certain amount of power and a great deal more of pretension attract& round her a band of followers who speak of "Her" with bated breath ; whom she lectures and advises about their course in life. Cecilia is handsome and dresses fashionably, feeling, as she says, that her beauty is a gift which she is bound to improve to the best advantage ; she is fond of power, obstinate, almost unscrupulous, but not without generous impulses, not altogether to be disliked. In nothing, in fact, is Mrs. Brook- field's power more signally sho wn than it is in the moderation with which she draws the character. A vulgar novelist would have made it simply detest- able, and turned the tale into one of those books which, even when written. with cleverness, we read with pain, so great is the shame and disgust which the picture of folly or selfishness inspires. " Cecilia " is much more artfully drawn. She behaves abominably, it is trite, separates a man from his wife on the ground that the poor fellow was deteriorated by her influence, and tries—a far worse crime—to separate a pair of loiere, even the hero and heroine of the story, finally betraying her ova liking for the young gentleman ; yet Mrs. Brookfield allows her 11? make A not undignified exit, and we part with her with some feeling otliking. The other characters in Influence are all good in their way ; \'she stern old• Colonel, the indolent and amiable mother of the heroine, be faithful disciples, and the rest, though not meant to be very elaborate sketches, fill up the canvass very agreeably. The conversations are well managed, and, though there is no pretence at a plot, the story is interesting_ Altogether, Influence is a good novel.
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