These are short stories of English country life, told with
great charm and simplicity. They are practically all stories of frustration, and though the writer prefers to stay on the surface of her characters, and not to pierce very deeply into the. " heart with blood red-tinctured," yet so far as they go they are true to life. It is life as seen by the innocent daughter of a country vicar or doctor, not as seen by a Tolstoy or a Hardy, yet it is real life. " Martha's Treasure " is excellent, and the last story is quite perfect. Its tragedy is the eternal one of mistaken, interfering kindness. The woman in it simply wants her freedom, her cottage and the management of her own life. High-handed people arrange that she is to be looked after, to live with somebody else, away from her own home, to attain prosperity—and misery. Mr. Brock's lovely little pictures give grace to the stories, and the book as a whole is fragrant with country content, and redolent of peace. It is also charmingly produced.
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