Dulcie Carlyon. By James Grant. 3 vole. (Ward and Downey.)
—Mr. Grant is pleased to call his novel after the name of his heroine ; but Dnlcie Carlyon, though she fills a considerable space in its pages, is not a very important person. The story really turns on the fortunes of a certain Shafto, who plays with very considerable audacity, and with some success, the part of a "claimant," and of the rightful heir whom for a time he succeeds in ousting from his place. In company with the heir, we pay a visit to South Africa, and witness some scenes in recent campaigns, the death of the Prince Imperial among them. It is here, as may be supposed by the reader of experience in novels, that Mr. Grant is at his best. If Mr. Grant's military tastes do not abate, his Scottish patriotism becomes more fervent than ever. We in England are accustomed to think that the Members from North Britain are, almost to a fault, devoted to the furthering of the national interests. It is pretty certain that anything that they agree upon gets done. But let us listen to Mr. Grant. He "was a typical Scottish Member, mightily interested when such grand Imperial matters as the gravelling of Park Lane, the ducks on the Serpentine, and the improvements of Hyde Park Corner were before the House, but was oblivious of all Scottish interests, or that such a place as Scot- land existed." Indeed, Mr. Grant becomes almost inarticulate in his wrath. "When she wanted—like other parts of the Empire—but never got them—grants for necessary purposes, the Hon. Cosmo was mute as a flab," &o. That is not put with the author's usual felicity of expression. May we guess that the secret of all this wrath is that the Scottish Members are for the most part Liberals P But why does that patriotic nation return them P
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