ted the gradual decadence of character in
Loman, step by step, entangled in a maze of lies, and degraded by vice
until self-respect is nigh crushed out.

"The Fifth Form at Saint Dominic's" was followed in 1882 by "My Friend
Smith;" in 1883 came "The Willoughby Captains" (by many considered his
best work); 1885 saw "Reginald Cruden;" and in the same year appeared
"Follow My Leader." This story--an excellent example of Reed's peculiar
power and originality in depicting school life--he wrote in three
months; a feat the full significance of which is best known to those who
were aware how full his mind and his hands were at that time of other
pressing work. Yet the book shows no marks of undue haste.

In 1886 came "A Dog with a Bad Name," followed in 1887 by "The Master of
the Shell." In 1889 Reed made a new and successful departure in "Sir
Ludar: A Story of the Days of the Great Queen Bess." Here he broke away
from school life, and carried his youthful readers back to the
Elizabethans and the glorious incident of the Armada. There is a fine
"go" and "swing" in the style of this story which recalls Kingsley to us
at his best.

Following hard on "Sir Ludar" came in the same year (1889) "Roger
Ingleton, Minor," a story dealing with young men rather than boys,
although Tom Oliphant, a delightful boy, and Jill Oliphant, his sister,
take their places among the most lovable of his youthful creations.

In "The Cock-house at Fellsgarth" (1891), and in "Dick, Tom, and Harry"
(1892), Reed returned to school life for the materials of his plots, and
in these fully maintained his reputation. In addition to these stories,
most of which have appeared, or are about to appear, in volume form, he
contributed many short stories and sketches to the Christmas and Summer
numbers of the _Boy's Own_. These are also, I am glad to learn, being
collected for publication in volume form.

In "Kilgorman," the last of the series of boys' books from his gifted
hand, as in "Sir Ludar," he displays a fine historic sense--a capacity
of living back to other times and picturing the people of another
generation. Much of the scene of "Kilgorman" and of "Sir Ludar" is laid
in Ireland--in the north and north-western corners of it--of all the
localities in the United Kingdom perhaps the dearest to Reed's heart.

To him, in more senses than one, Ireland was a land of romance. The
happiest associations of his life were there. There he wooed and won
hi