A QUINTETTE OF NOVELS.* ON being introduced to a young
lady of fortune and position who realises the existence of "bettor things than things obtained by inheritance," and formulates the unspoken creed, "1 am—I; and some day I am going to do—something," one is inclined to think that, though her creed may be a tritio vague, she probably has good stuff in her ; and this anticipa- tion is justified amply in the heroine of The Matchmaker, who is a personage to excite hearty liking, approval, and respect. Like a sunbeam darting into gloomy places and brightening them by its inherent quality of light, she is seen coming to visit an old Scotch Baron's castle, and enlivening the grey existence of its worthy, but dull and elderly, inmates by the sheer charm of a happy, friendly disposition, combined with youthful light-heartedness and a certain dash of audacity. That she is unselfish soon becomes apparent from her zealous efforts to make up a match between a man for whom she has herself a growing penchant, and a cousin whom she takes under her protection ; and she goes on rising higher and higher in one's good graces till the final touch is given by the heroism exhibited in her prompt and plucky performance of a voluntarily undertaken unpleasant task, in order to preserve her friend's good name from scandal. The cowardly Mina, whom she vainly endeavours to guide into paths of safety, is a girl whose deceitfulness results so clearly from maternal mismanagement, that the blame bestowed upon her will inevitably be tempered by a large admixture of pity. Her mother, Lady Carnoustie — well-intentioned, but narrow- minded and lacking in sympathy—is far too well satisfied of the absolute wisdom and correctness of her own point of view of things, ever to dream of trying to look at them from that of any one else, and unhesitatingly imposes her dictum on her family as an infallible authority for what they ought on all occasions to think and feel. When, therefore, her prim sense of decorum is horrified by an admirer of Mina's being said to be "everything that is eligible, and safely to be encouraged" (is it not, by-the-by, a rather exaggerated prudishness, even in Lady Carnoustie, to be shocked at so harmless a remark P), she at once ruthlessly cuts short an incipient love-affair, to which there is no sort of other objection ; and as the poor girl's not unnatural longings after a lover, diverted harshly from one in her own rank of life, find outlet in a clandestine attachment for a handsome young shepherd, there is thus brought about a terrible catas- trophe which causes the loss of two lives, and recoils upon the head of her who is its real source. The dramatic meeting between Penelope and Redwood, produced by Torquil's death- shot, has the clumsy appearance of an effect produced by forced means, because one cannot understand why nobody else should have also heard the shot, and gone to the place ; but with this exception the whole construction of the story is particularly artistic, and the excellent character-drawing the pages contain, affords so much amusement and interest that there is no danger of the reader's pausing to consider whether the supply of plot and incident is altogether adequate to the requirements of fiction in three volumes. Altogether, it is an exceptionally good novel, and fully worthy of the high reputation which Mrs. Walford has already earned for herself.
The impression produced on us by previous work from the pen of the clever lady who adopts the pseudonym of "Iota," is confirmed by her new gory, Children of Circumstance ; and this impression is that she is too " viewy " and prone to give * (14 The Matchmaker. By L. B. Walford. London : Loncninns and Co.—. (2 ) Chfidron f Circumotanco. BY the Author of "A Yellow Aster." London : Hutchinson find Co.-0 I Mr, Jertris. By Mil. B. M. Croker, London Ohritto and windos.—(4) The Mystery of the Rue Sly. By Itels a. r.fran-lated by Lealy Knutsford, London: Arno d.---(5.) Payee Wife. By the Authir of " Molly Hawn.' London: F. V. White and CO. utterance to her thoughts without waiting till time and mature reflection have enabled her to distinguish between those that are, and those that are not, likely to prove of practical value in the way of remedying evils whose existence she evidently, and quite rightly, deplores. Quickness of wit and vividness of perception insure her an abundant supply of ideas; but we should like to remind her that ideas with no definite outcome are unsatisfactory, and that however cordially readers may agree in her horror of " preachiness," they will, nevertheless, feel disappointed on rising frem the perusal of three volumes by a writer of her ability, with no distinct conclusions as to her opinions, except that the Irish difficulty might probably be settled by conscription ; and that if good women wish to keep their male belongings away from the 'unfortunate" class, they must "eschew the school-marm" (which means, we suppose, re- nounce higher education) and assiduously cultivate True-Love —(with capital letters). A. good deal of the book is occupied by a description of the heroine's attempt to reclaim fallen members of her sex. Not being " cock-sure " enough about anything to set about doing this by giving any sort of in- struction, she endeavours to accomplish her laudable purpose by a course of plentiful suppers and songs; Let the experi- ment was, we fear, a failure, seeing that none of the subjects experimented on evince any signs of reformation—(Polly, be it observed, is not to be included with the rest, since she is treated on a different system)—and the only person described as benefiting by it is the experimenter, who thereby acquires some knowledge respecting the objects of her kindness, which one almost wonders she bad not acquired before,—viz., that they are human beings like others, and that "if you-prick them they bleed, if you tickle them they laugh." In criticising a book by a writer with "Iota's" pronounced turn for mental pathology, it is almost needless to say that the pages contain studies of emotion in the fantastic and distorted shapes which it Resumes in neurotically diseased females; and one of these studies, that of an "unfortunate," who believes firmly that her "internal machinery" contains some fundamental flaw for which she is not responsible, and who echoes with conviction Renan's "Dieu Gl'it trabi," exemplifies forcibly what Carlyle would have termed "a foiled potentiality."
The graphic and successful sketch of petty female rivalries and jealousies in Anglo-Indian society afforded by Mr. Javis may perhaps be cited as an illustration of the "Set a thief, &es" principle, inasmuch as it proves a woman's power to comprehend and expose the weaknesses of her sex; and notwithstanding the masculine title, the interest of the baok centres chiefly in the feminine element. The story may very hilly be tsrroed a speculation in nieces on the part of two middle-aged, childless, married ladies, who are sworn rivals, residing at the same station in India. Aunt No. 1 thinks it will be handy to have some one to arrange flowers, dust ornaments, make coffee and salad, and "do all sorts of little odd jobs," and thinks also that it will give new zest to life to have a girl for whom to try to make "the best match of the season;" so she asks an English niece to come and stay with her ; whereupon Aunt No. 2, scorning to be outdone, announces, with more truth 'Lan grammar, that "other people has nieces too," and proceeds at once to imitate her rival's example. The fact of neither matron having any personal acquaintance with her invited guest, gives a decidedly speculative character to this investment of house-room ; and as one girl turns out to be virtuous and a domestic joy, whilst the other is the reverse, it is for- tunate that the qualities of the chaperones correspond re- spectively to those of their young charges, so that when the latter are finally disposed of according to their merits, the sentiments of rejoicing or woe thereby created in the breasts of the two matrons meet with the reader's entire approval. Mrs. Brande's portrait is the best, and her ludicrous touchi- ness about precedence seems not impossible, but almost justifiable, when one bears in mind the solemnly sacramental manner in which she regards "her proper place" as the out- ward and visible sign of the deserts of the husband from whom she derives rank. The only thing calling for remark in the unassuming and blameless young millionaire who figures as hero is the rashness that twice brings him within an ace of losing his destined bride,—first, when he consents to change parts with a swindling companion, and does so not only ostensibly, but also by trusting him as purse-bearer; and secondly, when he believes without question a madman's Ins
supported assertion that insanity is hereditary in his (oui hero's) family. Mark's imprudence in these two instances is so unlike the practical good sense that generally distinguishes him, as to be nothing short of astonishing.
To place a first-rate foreign novel in reach of those whose education does not enable them to enjoy it in the original, is to confer a real boon upon them ; and every one who is not a French scholar has much cause to be grateful to Lady Kautz- ford for the capital translation of Balzac's renowned Ferrague, which she publishes under the name of The ilfystery of the Rue Soly. It is a sensational story, far superior to the modern article of the kind to which the term is generally applied, and one whose intense interest holds the reader fascinated, though perhaps shuddering, as he watches the fearful power wielded by "Lea Treize," a secret society of thirteen whose existence and movements are only traceable by swift, inexorable strokes that serve at once to indicate and cut down the objects of their animosity. As in the case of a classic-like Ferragus, the literary merits are too well known to call for further criticism, it is here only necessary to draw attention to its appearance in English dress, and strongly recommend any one who has not yet made its acquaintance, to avail himself of the opportunity of doing so now afforded him, May we suggest La Peau de Chagrin and Le Fere Goriot as the next subjects for Lady Knutsford's pen, in case she should contemplate continuing the good work she has begun of rendering Ba.lzac's masterpieces accessible to all her compatriots P They have already been translated, but not, if we remember rightly, in good idiomatic English.
Those whose arithmetical studies have extended to decimal fractions, know what is meant by a mixed circulator ; which term etrikes us as so appropriate to books of fiction whosepages are filled with stereotyped, periodically recurring figures, ever treading in well-worn tracks, that we do not think we can give a better idea of Peter's Wife than by describing it as a mixed circulator novel. It shows a by-no-means perfect young lady espoused to a perfect husband of double her age, and strongly tempted to go off with a former lover, all strictly according to regulation; and inasmuch as the book is English, the wife's final election of paths of virtue is also according to regulation, just as in a French work of the kind, she would be more likely to adopt the opposite course,—though whether the difference of ending makes any particular difference as to the wholesomeness and edification of this sort of literature, seems somewhat doubtful. A lady who can let her smile fall into her lap, and let her face fall into her handkerchief ; a kettle capable of pouring itself out; strides that are descriptive of a state of mind ; waves beating their hearts out; and a night when the falling of heavy mist is simultaneous with bright moonlight, are phenomena of sufficiently unusual occurrence to seem worthy of mention ; but even these curiosities do not prevent the story from appearing to us anything better than trash.
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