Not Drowned. By Antony Bathe. (Chapman and Hall.)—Two of the
personages of this story go through an experience which may be described in the words "not drowned." Margaret Kirkward, being left in poverty, determines to go to the Cape. She is shipwrecked on her way, but saved, the only other survivor being the second mate. This second mate she marries, not because she loves him, for he is quite beneath her in birth and education, but to avoid scandal. Here we must interpose an objection. Surely Mrs. Grundy, in her most censorious mood, could not take away the character of a young woman because she had been alone in a boat for a few days with a sailor ? However, this is necessary for the development of the plot. Margaret Kirkward is "not drowned," but becomes Margaret Beale, so scrupulous are the social requirements of Gibraltar, of all places in the world. We shall not spoil Mr. Bathe's story by revealing who it is that, besides Margaret, is "not drowned." The elements of a good story are here. This unequal yoking together always gives a writer an excellent chance of making something interesting, the difficulty always being to contrive the union without some impro- bability or damage to the character of the hero or heroine. Mr. Bathe makes a fairly good use of his opportunity, and has produced a story which has some performance and more promise.
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