I hardly think that Madame ALBANESI has chosen quite the most appropriate name for the story that she calls _Hearts and Sweethearts_ (HUTCHINSON). Personally, I fancy that _Suits and Lawsuits_ would have come nearer the mark; because, though there is a certain proportion of love-making in the tale, there is considerably more about going to law. One difficulty with which I fancy the writer had to contend is due to the fact that her hero and heroine are (in a sense) the opposing protagonists in a case of disputed succession; _Jemima Frant_ being engaged in the attempt to turn out _Sir John Norminster_ from his estates and establish the claim to them of her dead sister's child. Naturally, therefore, till this is settled their opportunities for the tender passion are, to put it very gently, restricted. But of course--well, a novel with such a title is hardly likely to leave anybody of importance unmarried at the final page. Before this is turned, you have some pleasant comedy of London in war-time, and meet a number of agreeably sketched persons, whose conversation may amuse you, or, on the other hand, may cause you to wish them a little less discursive. Madame ALBANESI indeed impressed me as having occasionally turned her subordinate characters loose into a chapter, with instructions to fill it up anyhow, while she herself thought out the next move. But the law was always leisurely, so this characteristic might perhaps be expected in a story so much concerned with it.
[Illustration: _The Mother_ (_overhauling little Tommy's wardrobe_). "OH, CHARLES, JUST SEE WHAT THAT DREADFUL CHILD HAS BEEN CARRYING ABOUT IN HIS POCKET! A REAL CARTRIDGE WITH A BULLET IN IT. HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN BLOWN TO BITS!"
_The Father_ (_with a glowing consciousness of assisting his country at a critical time_). "JUST PUT IT IN A COOL PLACE FOR TO-NIGHT, MY DEAR, AND I WILL LEAVE IT AT THE WAR OFFICE TO-MORROW ON MY WAY TO BUSINESS."]
"The anthem 'O Thou that tillest' (Messiah), will be rendered."--_Dublin Evening Mail_.
No pains are being spared to promote agriculture in Ireland.
"The river in many places has overflown its banks."-- _Henley Newspaper_.
Even Father Thames cannot resist the modern mania for aviation.