Patience Tabernacle. By Sophie Cole. (Mills and Boon. 6s.) — We
have always wondered what kind of people live in those few private houses still standing, with a pathetic air of isola- tion, among the big offices and warehouses of that part of London which shall be called "Taylors Inn." And now we know. The Tabernacle family lives there—Mr. Tabernacle, the kindly bank clerk, whose books will not bear very close investigation ; Mrs. Tabernacle, who, by the way, would surely not have admired Morris designs; and their daughter Patience— and most amiable, interesting folk they all are. Miss Cole loves her London, and makes excellent use of its sights and sounds and smells. Her book has, indeed, so many good points that we must be allowed to protest against the misuse of her
unusual dramatic power, in plot, in characterization, and in scenery. So far as the plot is concerned, we have only to complain of its dependence upon incredible coincidences; but the denseness of intellect of her men, and especially of her women, becomes irksome, and the scene of Westminster Bridge by night, accompanying the intimate reflections of the chief actors, occurs no less than four times. This can hardly be considered good stage management. We do not, however, wish to convey any scorn of Miss Cole's book ; we should not so criticize it were we not convinced that she is capable of far better work.
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