character,
and, indeed, the whole book is cleverly written. It has also the
advantage of being in only one volume. The influence of Mudie on
literature, the baneful influence of the circulating library, is clearly
on the wane. The gain to literature is incalculable. English novels
were becoming very tedious with their three volumes of padding--at least,
the second volume was always padding--and extremely indigestible. A
reckless punster once remarked to me, apropos of English novels, that
'the proof of the padding is in the eating,' and certainly English
fiction has been very heavy--heavy with the best intentions. Lady
Lindsay's book is a sign that better things are in store for us. She is
brief and bright.

* * * * *

What are the best books to give as Christmas presents to good girls who
are always pretty, or to pretty girls who are occasionally good? People
are so fond of giving away what they do not want themselves, that charity
is largely on the increase. But with this kind of charity I have not
much sympathy. If one gives away a book, it should be a charming book--so
charming, that one regrets having given it, and would not take it back.
Looking over the Christmas books sent to me by various publishers, I find
that these are the best and the most pleasing: Gleanings from the
'Graphic,' by Randolph Caldecott, a most fascinating volume full of
sketches that have real wit and humour of line, and are not simply
dependent on what the French call the legende, the literary explanation;
Meg's Friend, by Alice Corkran, one of our most delicate and graceful
prose-writers in the sphere of fiction, and one whose work has the rare
artistic qualities of refinement and simplicity; Under False Colours, by
Sarah Doudney, an excellent story; The Fisherman's Daughter, by Florence
Montgomery, the author of Misunderstood, a tale with real charm of idea
and treatment; Under a Cloud, by the author of The Atelier du Lys, and
quite worthy of its author; The Third Miss St. Quentin, by Mrs.
Molesworth, and A Christmas Posy from the same fascinating pen, and with
delightful illustrations by Walter Crane. Miss Rosa Mulholland's
Giannetta and Miss Agnes Giberne's Ralph Hardcastle's Will are also
admirable books for presents, and the bound volume of Atalanta has much
that is delightful both in art and in literature.

The prettiest, indeed the most beautiful, book from an artistic point of
view is undoubtedly Mr. Walter Crane's Fl