Mistress Nancy Molesworth. By Joseph Hocking. (James Bowden.)—This story, which
while it was running through one of the magazines bore the name of " Trevanion," from its adventurer-hero, recalls, perhaps rather too readily, Mr. Black- more's romance of "Lorna Doone." The Kiligrews, whose repu- tation for lawlessness and misdoings figure so much in it, at once suggest the Doones, the wily Otho corresponding to the Counsellor and the combative, bragging Benet to Carver, while Mistress Nancy Molesworth bears a distinct resemblance to Lorna, although she is infinitely more spirited. It is but fair, however, to Mr. Hocking to say that the main incidents in his plot in no way recall those of the older romance. Roger Trevanion, a Cornish gentleman whom poverty has made desperate, falls into the hands of a wretchod trickster, and undertakes a very question- able commission for him. His better nature triumphs over his worse, and, there being a " distressed damsel " of great beauty to succour under circumstances of especial difficulty and danger, he gets as near to realising the ideal of Sir Galahad as can be expected of a plain Cornish gentleman. He has certainly plenty of fighting to do with the Kiligrews, especially with Otho, the subtler and more cruel of the brothers, and his rival in love, and the story is in consequence not lacking in vigour. Nancy Moles- worth is an admirable picture of a spirited young woman who is not easily won, but who, when won, is certain to make the best of wives ; and a curious character, " Uncle Anthony," who fills in an eccentric fashion the part of " good fairy," is also well drawn. There are traces of hurry in some parts of the story, suggestive of the possibility that Mr. Hocking, like so many of our romancists, is doing too much. But, all things considered, Mistress Nancy Molesworth is a pleasant and a strong story.
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