The End Crowns AU. By Emma Marshall. (J. F. Shaw
and Co.)—Mrs. Marshall describes her book as "A Story of Life." Perhaps we may say that, for all its merits—and readers who know Mrs. Marshall's work need hardly be told that these are great—this particular characteristic scarcely belongs to it. The tale seems to us somewhat remote from life. Mr. Hardman, for instance, is a great deal too brutal. Civilisation puts a certain restraint on such men which we do not find in his conduct. Then, again, Maud (the name is spelt Maud and Maude on the same page) could not possibly have accepted presents from a number of young men, and taunted Aubrey with what she had from other admirers. A girl, even supposing her to be willing herself to take such things, cannot conceal them from her parents. Then the incident of the three, the heroine, her brutal admirer, and the worthier lover, all tumbling into the water together, is melo- dramatic to the verge of the grotesque. Mrs. Marshall can write so well, has so much to say, and can draw character with such delicacy and precision, that we are particularly sorry to see her endeavouring to rouse her readers' interest in this way. The end of the story is very good, though we do not see why the heroine handed over Paul to Rose, so to speak, against his will.
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