The Press.
London, England, 1857-05-09 00:00:00

459

that there will always be a demand amongst
readers for a certain amount of Scotch novels.

This novel, though rather a long story, we
have read through with the greatest interest.
It is full of life-like descriptions and finished
portraits It has nothing that deserves the name
of plot, yet the author• raises such an interest in
his fictitious personages that we feel we could
go on reading about their ordinary daily life
almost through another three volumes. Some
persons may think that these details are a
little too copious—that the number• of pic-
nics, ono very like another, is rather too great,
and the quantity of claret and whisky con-
sumed a little too carefully registered ; but
the situations are so picturesque, the male
actors so striking, and the young ladies so
pretty and full of fun, that we could not wish
a single scene away.
The figures in the foreground are, first, the
family of a Highland laird, consisting of him-
self and his three daughters,—Norah, Esme,
and Ishbel; and, secondly, a party of three
English gentlemen, Harold, Auber, and
Marchmoram, who rent some large shootings
in their neighbourhood: and the action lies
chiefly in the Highland hall of Glenbenrongh
and the shooting lodge at Dreumah. The
nomenclature seems affectedly quaint, a fashion
which is springing up amongst novelists. Of
the three girls, Ishbel is too young to be made
love to ; Nor•ah is quickly appropriated by Mr.
Harold; and Esme becomes the object of the
rival attentions of Auber and Marchmoram.
These arc described as men of the very
highest London stamp—leaders in the world
both of fashion and intellect—and the latter
ambitious of political power, and bent upon
rising in Parliament. As a valuable assistant
in forwarding these views, he has previously
formed an engagement with a duke's daughter,
Lady Ida Beatiregard ; and, though ho falls
deeply in love with Esme, he shrinks from
retarding his political advancemenkby aban-
doning his ducal alliance. Auber is a man of
a different order—a blasé man of keen intellect
and co'.d neart, with exquisitely fascinating
manners—who in his intercourse with Esme is
merely seeking to amuse an idle hour. For-
tunately for frer own peace, the Highland girl
reads his character aright, and her heart is
never in danger for• a moment. She is, how-
ever, completely subdued by the proud and
vigorous nature of Marchmoram and the pro-
gress of their attachment forms the main
interest of the story. The minor• personages
are all kept distinct, are thoroughly well
executed, and their careers invested with pro-
portionate interest.
The author's descriptive and dramatic
power is high. His knowledge of human
nature must be considerable, fur• his leading
characters seem to stand in flesh and blood
before us. These are his two principal excel-
lences; for the story is unskilfully put toge-
ther, and the moral commonplace. He leaves
gaps iu his narrative which show great want
of ar•t, as, for instance, where, after Torah's
engagement to Harold, she writes home in a
disconsolate style from Yorkshire to say the
match is broken off; and the very next thing
e hear about her is that the wedding-day is
fixed. These, however, arc faults which prac-
tice will do much to correct In the case of a
comparatively unknown candidate for literary
applause we think it only fair• to allow our
readers to judge by extracts, when the work
gives promise of ability. The following spe-
cimens will, we think, justify our• remarks :

A HIGHLAND " B %RN BALL."

The barn was very large, the floor level with the ground.
Chandeliers, formed of fresh green branches, hung from
the black rafters at intervals, innumerable tallow candles
burning amongst the garnishing of leaves. A wattling of
green birch extended across the upper end of the barn,
having candles and oil lamps ranged on the top of it.
Chairs were placed before this wattling for the ladies ; and
two rows of deal forms, borrowed from the schoolhouses
and farms, extended the whole length of both sides. Three
barrels, reversed, and covered with plaids, having a stool
placed on the top of each, formed the orchestra ; which
was occupied by two fiddlers and a performer on the doub'e
bass. The piper stood next them, immovable, with the
pipes under his arm, ready to change the tune or music at
a moment's warning.
The doorway was ornamented by an arch of evergreens
and heather, and branches of birch and holly were every-
where fastened above the rafters and on the walls, which
were of rough clay, tlre floor being smoothly planked.
Upwards of a hundredcountry people were seated around,
and a large band of old and young men stood at the door