. The Cavalier. By George W. Cable. (John Murray- 6s)
—In this story Mr. Cable has forsaken his favourite theme, the description of Creole life in some old-fashionezl town, for something more stirring, the great struggle between the North and the South. We must own to a feeling of regret at this new departure ; many men could have written The Cavalier, few, if any, besides Mr. Cable, "The Grandissimes " or "Madame Delphine." The hero of the story is a young Southern soldier of distinction, whose adventures in love and war are related by his friend and brother-in-arms, Richard Smith. The effort on Mr. Cable's part to make the characters explain themselves by speed in a novel so full of action is hardly successful, and when Bawl and his chief discuss ethical questions while out scouting the situation becomes almost ridiculous. The analytical tendencies of the heroes do not, however, interfere with their soldierly qualities ; indeed, the Confederate arms are so uniformly wren. fat that we forget the disastrous end in store for the South, and receive the news of Gettysburg and Vicksburg with something of a shock. We must specially mention the character of Char. lotto Oliver, drawn with remarkable delicacy and insight.
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