Miss Secretary Ethel. By Ellinor Davenport Adams. (Hurst and Blaekett.)—This,
we are told, is "a story for girls of to day," and a very good story it is. Miss Davenport Adams has some- thing distinctive to say, a thing not often to be found in books of this kind, pleasant, and even meritorious, as they frequently are. Ethel Vincent goes as secretary to a certain Sir Edgar Allesley. He has lost his only child, and he cannot think of anything better for himself and his wife than that they should cut themselves off from any kind of acquaintance or companionship which should re- mind them of their loss. The wife is really longing to let her heart go out to some one who would keep the memory of her lost daughter fresh, not cover it with perpetual gloom. This is the serious side of the story. The narrative of Miss Ethers work as a secretary shows a lighter touch. Sir Edgar puts a higher value on his own abilities than they really have, and his pride is touched by the help which his secretary gives him, a help which he can neither deny nor refuse, but still does not like to accept. The picture of the man with all these influences working on him—his genuine dislike of the presence which reminds him so vividly of his loss, his pride, his wounded self-esteem, along with a sense of obligation which conscience does not permit him to ignore—is very powerfully drawn. The tale, too, is dramatically worked up to a most effective conclusion, and does the author very great credit.
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