Testimony. By Alice and Claude Askew. (Chapman and Hall. 6s.)—The
first part of this book, the scene of which passes in New England, is excellently written and most interesting to the reader. The picture of the household of the little farm— of the stern old New England mother with the brilliant New York daughter-in-law—is particularly well done. When, however, the mother and the daughter-in-law quarrel and the daughter-in-law deserts her home, the novel distinctly degenerates. The girl takes refuge with a millionaire uncle in England who wishes to use her beauty and charm to help him to make his way into London society. For this purpose she passes herself off as unmarried. The scenes which take place in England are much more commonplace ; but the end, where the three principal personages are finally reunited, is well managed and decidedly moving. But the contrasted portraits of Rachel, the mother, and Althea, the girl, are the best things in the story.
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