ple one, wound about an old
theme. It is well constructed, and admirably told. All the characters
are what are called Society people; but Mrs. HENNIKER has studied them
in the drawing-room, not from the area-railings, and reproduces them on
her page with vivid strokes. Some of her acquaintances will probably
feel uneasy when they read about _Lord Huddersfield_; whilst others will
be quite sure that (among their sisters), they recognise _Mrs. Anthony
Gore_. Those not in Society of to-day will find reminiscences of _Becky
Sharp_ in _Mrs. Gore_; whilst big-boned, good-natured, simple-hearted
_Anthony_, pleasantly recalls _Major Dobbin_. The book is full of shrewd
observation, and fine touches of character-drawing, with refreshing
oases of flower-garden and moor in Yorkshire and Scotland.

* * * * *

Those who like a good "gashly" book should, my Baronite says, forthwith
send for _Lord Wastwater_ (BLACKWOOD). The plot is so eerie, and its
conclusion so incredulous, that the practised novel-reader, seeing
whither he is being led, almost up to the last page expects the
threatened blow will be averted by some more or less probable agency.
But Mr. (or Miss) SYDNEY BOLTON is inexorable. _Lord Wastwater_ is dead
now, and there can be no harm in saying that the House of Lords is well
rid of his impending company. He would have made a sad Duke.

* * * * *

A little more than a year ago, in celebration of the seventieth birthday
of HENRIETTE RONNER, there was published a volume containing
reproductions in photogravure of some of the works of that charming
painter. Madame RONNER knows the harmless, necessary cat as intimately
as ROSA BONHEUR knows the horse or the ox. She has painted it with
loving hand, in all circumstances of its strangely-varied life. No one
knows, my Baronite says, how pretty and graceful a thing a cat is, till
they study it with the assistance of Madame RONNER. CASSELLS afford
opportunity of making this study by presentation of a new and cheaper
edition of the volume, with cats in all attitudes purring round an
interesting essay on themselves, and their Portraiture, contributed by
Mr. H. M. SPIELMANN.

* * * * *

Wishing all of you, Constant Riters and Constant Readers, a Very Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year. I am, yours ever,

THE BLITHESOME BARON DE BOOK-WORMS.

* * * * *