Princess Puck. By U. L. Silberrad. (Macmillan and Co. Cs.)
—A slight over-elaboration of detail, a genealogical background of excessive intricacy, and some repet.tions of effects—these are the faults of Miss Silberrad's exceedingly clever, fresh, and wholesome story, Princess Puck. But these are the almost in- evitable faults of a story that has succeeded in monthly numbers. And to set against these are very great intrinsic merits, and, what is better than any catalogue of merits, the all-pervading charm of a happy inspiration embodied in an irresistible heroine. "
Bill" Alardy is a delightful creation : she bubbles over with life and goodwill, humour, energy, and affection; and everything she touches turns to romance. The people she belongs to are homely and prosaic : the medium is in the main middle-class. "Bill's" first lover is a yeoman farmer whom she meets while staying in the country with a cousin, who is =riled to another farmer. Wandering in the grounds of Woodhall, the historical "place" of her cousin's neighbourhood, "Bill" stumbles upon an adventure, and improves it with characteristic zest. Upon which there opens to her a vista of most exciting experiences and opportunities. By what bizarre concatenation of circum- stances " Bill " becomes at last mistress of Woodhall is not to be told here; nor have we space even to enumerate the many subordinate personages—all shrewdly and individually drawn— who fill the canvas. But Mr. Dane, the old clergyman who ought to have been "Bill's" grandfather, deserves a epeeist word of admiration Nor can the interesting incident of the Mass unexpectedly said in the midst of the Anglican Service in the Church where Mr. Dane officiated be passed over altogether. It was "Bill' in her " Puck " mood who was answerable for the Mess. And the results of her recklessness awoke once for all the responsible woman in the lu art of the child.
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