he has introduced too many characters into his book at the expense of the plot. it is a good book to pick up and while away a leisure hour, perhaps, but it is not a work that could rivet your interest till midnight, while the fire went out and the thermometer stepped down to 47° below zero. you do not hurry through the pages to see whether reginald married the girl or not. mr. webster did not seem to care how the affair turned out.