put before them with the guarantee of her name.
Fortunately in the case of _Concerning a Vow_ (STANLEY PAUL) this
confidence would be by no means misplaced. I can say at once, with my
hand upon my reviewer's heart, that in freshness and vivacity and power
of sprightly character-drawing here is a story that need fear comparison
with none of its most popular predecessors. The vow of the title was
that exacted by _Meg Champneys_ on her death-bed from her sister
_Sally_, binding the latter not to marry _Edward Branley_. _Edward_, in
some fashion that was never made quite clear to me, had previously
jilted both the sisters. But this all happened before the beginning of
the book. In it poor _Edward_ is made so pitiable and heart-broken a
figure that I found it hard to credit his previous infidelities.
However, most of the other characters detested him, and said that
nothing was too bad for him; and as they themselves were delightful and
quite human people I am ready to suppose that they had their reasons. Of
course _Edward_ and _Sally_ were really in love all the time, and of
course too they find resistance to this impossible; though I must own
that their method of circumventing the vow reminded me dangerously of
the young man who used a cigarette-holder because he had been told to
keep away from tobacco. I speak flippantly; but as a matter of fact the
story of _Edward_ and _Sally_ is not free from tragedy, very simply and
movingly told. If _Concerning a Vow_ does not add to Miss BROUGHTON'S
popularity it will only be because this is impossible; it certainly will
do nothing to lessen it.

* * * * *

Illustration: _Barber_ (_to victim._) "WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF THE
AEROPLANE AS A MILITARY ASSET?"

* * * * *

I think that Mr. W. R. TITTERTON is a little late in the day; his book,
_Me as a Model_ (PALMER), recalls happy memories of that past and
already romantic period when _Trilby_ was the talk of the hour and Paris
the centre of all Bohemian licence. Mr. TITTERTON has the DU MAURIER
manner, but his jocular skittishness, aided by asterisks, exclamation
marks and suspensive dots, has curiously little behind it. It is not
enough to-day to paint the gay impropriety of models and the
devil-may-care penury of lighthearted artists. _Trilby_ began the
movement, _Louise_ ended it, and Mr. TITTERTON is behind his day. I am
glad, however, to learn that he was so splendid