he better for it
from the boot-toe upwards. The real truth is that the story, which is
written in the form of a triple autobiography (_Nikhil, Sandip_ and
_Bimala_ all taking a hand at telling it in turn) is an exposition of
two views of Suadeshi, or what may be called the Sinn Fein movement in
India. _Nikhil_ is the apostle of "self-realisation" as a moral force;
_Sandip_ believes in grabbing whatever you can. The latter first deifies
his country (_Bande Mataram,_ or "Hail, Mother!" is the Nationalist
motto) and then identifies _Bimala_ with the object of his worship,
which seems a very convenient theory. As for _Bimala_, she wavers
between the two. The romantic interest of the book (which is, by the
way, a translation) breaks down rather badly when it becomes clear that
_Sandip_ is not really a big enough man to make a complete conquest
of the Rani; but from every other point of view it is supremely
interesting. And if _Nikhil_ might perhaps have been improved by a
little less force of character and more of shoe-leather, _Bimala_, at
any rate, is a delightful personage.

* * * * *

Even "KATHARINE TYNAN" must sometimes fall below her own standard, and
_The Man from Australia_ (COLLINS), though written with considerable
grace and charm, is too thin in plot to be altogether satisfactory.
_John Darling_, a youngish man of wealth and an extremely liberal
disposition, came from Australia to visit his connexions in the West of
Ireland and--if opportunities occurred--to help them. Opportunities did
offer themselves in abundance. The _Adairs_ in their various ways were
ripe for a benefactor of the _Darling_ type to appear, and _John_ soon
got busy. In the course of his activities--for it would have been unkind
(and very dull) to bring him all the way from Australia to Ireland just
to serve as a travelling relief-fund--he is made to fall in love with
one of the _Adair_ girls. And that's almost the whole story. One may
always trust Mrs. HINKSON to get her atmosphere right; but she is not so
happy in her attempt to contrast the preternaturally unselfish _Darling_
who, like an earlier _Mr. Darling_, would have been content to live in a
kennel) with the inordinately self-indulgent father of the _Adairs_.

* * * * *

[Illustration: EPILOGUE]

THE NEW ORDER OF THINGS.

"I assume," said the Cynic, "that you are sufficiently sanguine to
rejoice in the prospects of Pe