The Real Mrs. Haver. By E. M. Chanson. (Hutchinson and
Co. 6s.)—This is a very attractive story, steadily increasing in interest up to the denouement. It is difficult to describe without giving away the interest of the story ; but this is in itself a favourable testimony : many novels, though cleverly written, have no interest of the kind. The characters talk brilliantly, and do and suffer surprising things, but we do not care "a brass farthing" what becomes of them. From Margery Lennard we part as from a friend. We are sorry that we shall see and hear no more of her— how glad we are to get away from the average heroine I—we are glad that her courage and loyalty have their due reward. One or two little blemishes may be mentioned. We have no means of knowing how badly a woman may behave to the governess whom she employs. We can believe a good deal, for some women have a genius for making themselves disagreeable ; still, we cannot but think that Mrs. Croome is an exaggeration. Something of the same kind may be said of the audacious advances of Flora Croome. When we meet Flora again we find her with a title which she could not possibly have borne. The nephew of a peer being but heir-presumptive, could not have had the courtesy title belonging to the heir-apparent. To finish with a word of praise— the recognition of the dead. Denzil in the chapel is quite admirable.
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