The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-16 00:00:00

LITERATURE,

Vicissitudes of a Gentlewoman. 3 vols. Hurst

and Blackett.

This is a pleasant, homely tale, naturally and
pleasantly told. It has no sensation effects, neither
does it excite a very breathless interest. Yet the
fluctuating fortunes of Janet Tudor will be followed
eagerly by many sympathetic readers, who will re-
joice in the ultimate reward of her patient and endur-
ing perseverance. The first volume, which relates the
youthful history of the heroine and her brothers, is
perhLps the best of the three. The vai ions charac-
ters introduced, and the various little home-scenes
described, are wonderfully natural. There are
glimpses, here and there, of a dried sort of resem-
olAnceto the cony chapters of the " Mill on the
Floss.,, Perhaps some remembrance of that story
unconsciously lingered in the recollection of the
authoress. The stories are essentially dissimilar,
hut tl.-.c reP.Ccrs of the first work will not fail to re-
cognise, on a perusal of the second, the peculiarities
we have alluded to, but which we shall not enume-
rate. JAnet Tudor, the heroine, is surrounded by
very uncongenial relatives. Her mother is dead.
Her father, Fulk Tudor, is a clever, weak man,
who idles away his time, and brings ruin on all
.onneeted with him. Janet's favourite brother, Tom,
is of much the same character, and her other bro-
ther, Harry, is more industrious but :ess steady in
his principles. Her mother's family are wealthy
and parsimoaious, and highly censorious of the
ill-doings of the Tudors, Toe old servant, Grace,
is Janet's true friend throughout. Tier homely
and affectionate tyranny is naturally described,
but we are inclined to think her economy some-
what exaggerated when she proposes to bestow
upon the children, by way of precaution, and to
prevent them being wasted, the contents of
some old medicine bottles, cough mixtures
and lotions intermingled indiecriminately I
We hardly think her "making the most
of things" would have quite extended to such
a point. However, Grace is a very worthy
old lady, and equally worthy are her relatives, the
warm-hearted, hospitable farmer Harris and his
wife. Under their humble roof poor Janet finds a
shelter more congenial than the condescendingly
bestowed charity of Aunt Wood and Uncle Jere-
miah Higgins. "Jeremiah, on the pinnacle of
wealth, looked down into the valley where dwelt
those he paid," and Aunt Wood is even more impe-
rious. Very different are the characters of Mr.
Bateman and his son Andrew, Janet's favoured lover.
Janet has many lovers, but there is singularly little
love-making in her history a quiet history,
marked by many vicissitudes in her outward for-
tunes : but in her inward feelings characterised
throughout by steady principle and abiding virtue.

Mistress and Mod, By the Author of " John
Halifax." One vol. Hurst and Blackett.
The new volume of Messrs. Hurst and Blackett's
" Standard Library" contains the very charming
story of " Mistress and Maid." by the popular
author of " John Halifax." Like the majority of
Miss Aluloch's very interesting works, this is essen-
tially a domestic story. The interest is centred
upon a little group of individuals, but for that very
reason the interest is not diminished but rather
augmented. Hilary Leaf and Elizabeth Hand are
the mistress and maid of the narrative. Hilary is
the youngest of three very dissimilar sisters.
Joanna, the eldest, who has filled a mother's place
to Hilary, is gentle and serene, and subdued by
many sufferings. Selina, the second, is capricious
and fretful—the jarring chord in the household
harmony. Hilary, the youngest, is worthy of a
closer acquaintance; and we must refer the curious
to Miss Muloch's interesting pages for correct por-
traits of this very loveable " Mistress" and her
devoted and true-hearted "Maid."

Ms Grade Lesson Books, in Six Standards. By
E. T. Stevens, associate of Bing's College; and
Charles Hole, Head Master of Loughborough
Collegiate School,
The Messrs. Loogman are always famous for their
school-hooks. They have now brought out a very
admirable series of elementary works, especially
adapted to meet the requirements of the " revised
code." These books are divided into six standards,
and each embraces not only lessons in Reading and
spelling, but also in writing, arithmetic, and dicta-
tion. The lessons of Number I. are easy and simp'e
and each successive volume graduary advances ac-
cording to the advancing requirements of the pupil.
Whether for school classes, or for home inEtruction,
these grade lesson books are likely to become
favourites with both teachers and pupils.