A Girl with a Temper. By H. B. F. Knight.
3 vols. (Bentley and Son.)—Tnis is a decidedly clever novel, with the unusual feature of a second volume equal to, if not better than, either first or third. Indeed, there are some striking situations in that usually sterile portio of the ordinary novel. The style is vigorous and pointed, and the interest is sustained throughout, the story moving briskly always ; while the characters are very real, and one waits with in- reasing interest for their successive appearances on the stage. Paul Gabbitas is perhaps a little too confused, or rather too com- posite a character, to seem natural or to be in proportion to the rest. He is not one of the chief characters, but his cleverness is dilated on, so that the others run a risk of being shelved while he performs. Still he is amusing, and the reader has the pleasure of seeing him and the other villain slowly gravitate toward each other. Mr. Finlay Knight knows life well, a little too well per. baps for the purpose of the story ; and much of his clever writing, and even some of the entertaining dialogue, is spoilt by the tire- some habit of insinuation and innuendo which jars after much repetition, and the coarseness which is quite unnecessary. A Girl with a Temper is distinctly good, and can be read more than once.
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