Matthew Hargraves. By B. G. Tallentyre. (Smith, Elder, and Co.
6a.)—The date of this exceedingly attractive novel is the opening of the nineteenth oentnry, though, indeed, the "thirties" hare already been reached before the main part Of the plot is developed. "Plot" perhaps is too strong a word, for there is very little story in the book, which is chiefly a study of three characters : the City man whose name furnishes the title, his wife Charlotte, and her cousin Patty. The reader will conclude that Matthew Hargraves is pleasanter to meet in the pages of a book than he would have been in real life. His extraordinary silence and gruffness aggravated by the unsympathetic character of his wife, would have been difficult to see through, and one needs all -the side- lights thrown on the fineness of his nature not to write him down as a very.grumpy fellow. It is a tribute to the author's cleverness that at the end of the book those who have followed. Matthew's fortunes from his childhood will feel real affection for him. The women of the story are more conventionally drawn, Charlotte being almost too efficient and hard-hearted to be possible, while Patty's virtues do not shine through the printed page as they were obviously meant to do. The general effect of the story, however, is quite fascinating, though it is difficult to say exactly wherein the charm lies.
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