Aldyth. By Jessie Fothergill. 2 vols. (Henry S. King and
Co.)— This novel has the great merit of attracting and keeping the interest of the reader without the help of a plot, we might almost say without the help of incident. After the filet chapter, which briefly describes the title of the tale, we are introduced to a family of brothers and sisters, who have recently lost their mother, and it is their history which we are well content to follow through the two volumes which Miss Fothergill has given us, not without feeling at the end that we could have wel- comed a third. Yet there is not an incident beyond the ordinary occur- rences of life, except indeed the perfidy and weakness which deprive the heroine of the happiness for which she had waited so long. The author draws her character, as she conducts her dialogue, with un- common skill. She seems, indeed, to have a mean opinion of the male sex. Aldyth's brother, Harold, and her lover are both weak creatures, and Edmund, though shrewd enough, has the misfortune to be without a heart. She wishes her readers to have a better opinion of her hero, who is recommended to her by his scepticism in matters of religion, but she will scarcely succeed. His gcod qualities have to be very much taken for granted, while there can be no doubt that his conduct about Esther was silly, not to say dishonourable, in the extreme. After the scene in the cavern, there could be no possible excuse for his not speaking oat without delay. The women are much better. We can only regret that she has felt it necessary to make Caroline turn out so badly. Of one thing we must express our disapproval, and that is the author's tone about religious belief. This is most needlessly offensive. The scene in the church on Easter Sunday is in the worst possible taste. If Miss Fothergill's heroes must be free-thinkers, let them at least be gentlemen.
Previous page
