Misunderstood. By Florence Montgomery. (Bentley.)—Misunder- stood would be a charming
book, which we could recommend without hesitation, if it were diminished by the last hundred pages or so, which are very sad. It is not meant for children, we are told, but for those who are interested in children. And these, as far at least as the point which we have indicated, will read it with pleasure, though they may not accept the moral which it is intended to convey to them. Hum- phrey, the hero, is rightly called " Misunderstood " in one sense. As often happens to boys of high spirits and volatile temper, he did not get the credit that he deserved for really deep and sincere feeling. But his father did not in the least misunderstand him, as the author seems to imply that he did, when he thought him the most hopelessly incorri- gible " pickle " that ever lived. The reader shall judge. He suggests to his father that it would be great fun if he were to climb along a certain bough that overhangs a pond. The father does not see it ; tells him that the bough is rotten and forbids him to go near the pond. And we are required to believe that he forgets all about the prohibition, that he goes to the pond, and goes through every circumstance of the adventure which he had described to his father without one thought of it being forbidden crossing his mind. We flatly refuse to believe anything of the kind. Or if such a thing is possible, we must say that so forgetful a gentleman would be a very dangerous member of society when he grew up. We are very sorry for the trouble that he got into, and, indeed, have declined to read the particulars, but we must say that the " misunderstood " boy is very like in his way to the femme incom- prise.
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