3 FEBRUARY 1883, Page 24

Alasnam's Lady. By Leslie Keith. (Bentley.)—There is too much of

this novel, and of that too-muchness, talk has an undue share. But the author will do things worth doing, if she cultivates the art of pruning, and is remorseless in its exercise. Her heroine is charming ; but she might have married the good fellow with brains (indeed, we took him for Alasnam, until quite near the end), witbont prejudice to the story ; the mystery is well contrived, though trans- parent, and the local colour is fresh, pleasant, and characteristic. It is quite a treat to be taken to Spain in a novel ; we are as tired of the Riviera as Sir Charles Coldstream was of everywhere.