The Manor School. By L. T. Meade. (W. and R.
Chambers. 6s.)—This is one of Mrs. Meade's very dramatic and almost tragical stories. Christian Mitford overhears her father and mother, who are about to leave England, discussing the school to which she is to be sent. The prospect terrifies her, and she runs away. A very few hours satisfy her that there are worse things than the strictest school, and she is glad to go where her parents wish her. But the escapade is to be the source of unnumbered woes. It is a dark secret on which an unscrupulous school-mate trades,—these girls' schools of fiction seem to harbour some terrible creatures. The story is, we readily allow, interesting, and even exciting; but who would think that the orderly procession of demure young creatures whom one sees paraded for devotion or exercise may conceal such volcanic forces ? But any one can give us tame probabilities ; Mrs. Meade has a far more attractive gift. —Riverton Boys, by K, M, Eady and R. Eady (T, Nelson and Sons, is. 6d.), is a much more simple affair. In it we have the story, told with considerable force, of the feud between two neighbouring schools, known to each other as the "Mortar-board Snobs" and the "Cads." There are encounters of various kinds, physical and intellectual ; and the whole is appropriately com- pleted by some spirited scenes in South Africa, in which a happy reconciliation is found in doing an Englishman's duty.
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