The New York herald., 1875-06-07
CHATS ABOUT BOOKS.
MIR. SMITH.

CHAIS ABDUL DOOhD.
MIR. SMITH.
eve did not leave the ciry day teo soon" said
the Doctor, as he stepped out upon the broad
piazza at Belle we, the old homestead on the
banks or the Delaware, TO smoke his after dinner
cigar How charming the country looks; even
those lazy button-woods down by the gate seem
ambitious not TO be outdone by the naples, and
nave a tolerably thick foliage already"
FELICIA looming up from a stroll through tue
rrovel-Just look at those lilac bushes; they are
fairly weighed down by their flowers Do cut
lot, Fred, and VIII put them In every room In the
house.
FRED-I will, with pleasure, by and by; but you
know that live up to that wholesome ruie-atter
dinner sit awhile.
FELIcIA-You lazy fellowl II you were not 60
inc back TO the hot, tiresome city tomorrow
would scoid you.
Miss RACHEL coming out offthe library with
book in her handl-You must excuse me for not
having joined the family circle before, but when
tell you that have been reading the last lew
pages OF that delightful novel, "Mr. Smith,
Henry Holt co.,, / know that you win forgive
me.
The MoTHER-Indecd we wil my dear. could
forgive person for sitting up all night In hot
room with no better light than candle II 1t was
TO read that book.
The DoCToR-It Is the novel or the season, and
IL Mr. waIford has any more OF that sort on hand
hope he viii bring them out before my busy days
begin.
FELIcIA-Not only the most fascinating but the
most natural story have read in many long
day. There Is not an overdrawn character In the
entire book. Those Tolleton girls are splendid.
FRED-Dont say those Toleton girs-say "that
Toleton girl is splendid.n
FELIcIA-Of course it was all Helen, though
Lilly was not without her attractions. But have
you ever noticed that II two or three girls 60
together, ana one OF them is handsome and
stylish the others get the credit OF being TOO
The DocroR-lt is not every writer who can
keep up the most intense interest in the doings OF
a quiet little English town. The scene never shirts
frem Esstworld ana you don't want It to. / can
imagine just the excitement created by the arrival
OF Mr. smith. That ne should become the centre
OF tnat little world without knowing it and be
fought over and gossped perfectly natural,
and so was MS slow dawning love Tor Helen
Toleton. or course. II he loved any one In East
world it was to be Helen Tolleton.
FREp-He would nave loved Helen n there had
been nfty others around felt sorry for Philip
WenwoOd, for II was not hard 10 what was the
matter with him.
FELIcIA-That Hunt family Is too good. How
they didtry TO believe that Mr.. Smith was in love
with Narial With what ill-conccaled triumph
-
was Marlan / don't wonder that the Tolletons
had 10 turn their miscnievous eyes away.
FRED don't see how those girls got the
name OF being fast. Helen nirted, or rather CO.
quetted, with q married man wnen she was sew
enteen, and once her father thought that he
smelled smoke abou her. / wonder how many
iasnIonaDle girls could show a better record--I
mean girls whom no one pretends TO call even
lastish. cali Helen Tolleton a noble-nearted,
one for Mrs. Fred
The MornER-I do not 20 quite so far as you. my
son, in my liking for Helen; nut sne certainly was
. giri 70 iove, and cannot blame Lord Sanfrrcn-
den for having a desire TO visit "the T.s.u and
only wonder now he could keep from accompany
Ing Philip on some Of his visits.
"oUR DETACHMENT
s,Katherfne King seems to be OF a military turn
or mInd,r said MISS Rachel glancing st the title
page OF 'Our DetachmentS (Harper A Bros.)
.AII ner stories are more or less OF the servicen
fELIcIA-And very pleasant stories they are, too.
.Our Detachment you wnl ma wen worth
spending few hours over these lazy days. the
plot Is mild and the situations not particularly
startling. IL is merely the story Of the lives or
some or the or1cers OF Her Maiesty's --th Foot,
quartered IN quiet irish town, as related by
VIVIAN Darrell, junior ensign.
MISS RAcHEL-suppose you take Darrell's duties
upon you and tell me the story yourself, Felicia
am in just the humor Tor listening
FELIcIA-"Madcapi Darrell. as he Is called. was
the youngest man IN "Our Detacnme nt"-in truth
ne was no man at all. but JUST boy OF eighteen,
and looked all or hts Ioutn. His age was thorn
IN the nesh, for he could get the girls to
sIder MIN other than a boy, and ne went great
deal by the name OF Baby.
FRED-From the hammock In a distant corner OF
rne PLAYABLE acted ike baby, too; / can
hardly Imagine a fellow OF eighteen nndng any
amusement IN making beds pie iasnion or putting
shot between the sheets that sort OF fun viii do
VERY well for school children.
FELICIA-Darrell, OF course, fell hopelessiy In
love with young lady much older than himself
Gwendollne cambridge, the belle OF tae town and
the Idol or the regiment, beautiful warm hearted
irish girl But aiasl Gwendolnc looked higher
and 10 a ripper lover. Lord CLAUDE Fcyersham, a
captain IN "Oursr was more to her fancy.
FRED-Feversham was no common clay, and ne
felt u.
FETIcIA-He was pretty good fellow on the
whole, though preferred Cecil Egerton, notwitn-
standing his long hail. Feversnam loved Gwendo-
line ana would have married her but for his
ofictous mother. who took mean way 10 get the
girl 10 give him up The old dowager wanted nun