The Heart of Penelope. By Mrs. Bello° Lowndes. (W. Heine-
mann. Os.)—The canvas which Mrs. Belloc Lowndes has ohosen is not quite large enough for the picture which she wished to paint on it. As a consequence, her characters, which are all given with minute detail, are crowded together, and the reader is made to feel that the minor characters are as im- portant as the principals. For instance, the man in whom the interest of the story centres, "Persian" Downing, is not more minutely painted than the old man of the world who is the confidant of half the characters, and it is therefore difficult to feel as much interest in Sir George Downing as is necessary for the real enjoyment of the book. It is also exceedingly difficult to acquiesce in the catastrophe at the end. If an elderly and pious Peeress is to commit a murder, even in defence of her daughter's honour, the author must make quite sure of carrying conviction to the reader, and Mrs. Bello° Lowndes has not made sure enough. Penelope, the heroine, is drawn with great minute-• ness, and it is difficult to say exactly why the reader never feels himself on terms of intimacy with her. Perhaps the reason may be sought for in tho fault mentioned above,—the undue prominence assigned to the minor characters. The personages of a novel should not resemble the characters at the end of an old-fashioned comedy, who all take bands and advance in line to bow to the audience. They should rather bo arranged in groups, and the less important among them, though clearly delineated, should not be forced too strongly on the reader's attention. If the laws of pro- portion are neglected, a novel suffers as much as any other work of art. It may be concluded from the spirit in which the foregoing remarks are made that The Heart of Penelope is much above the average of modern fiction. Mrs. Belloc Lowndes has here made an attempt at serious literature, and if it is not an absolutely successful attempt, at any rate it is possible to say that her novel is both clever, original, and readable.
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