Cirrus@Austlit

Grandpa is left to mind the baby while his daughter-in-law assists her sister in a household emergency - and forgets where he put it. Light domestic humour. (PB)

English country romance. An engagement is nearly broken off to save a weak brother from living alone in London's temptations - but a wise sister's usage of the leap year results in a double-wedding instead. Pleasant and well-constructed. (PB)

North Scottish romance set around village preparations for a church bazaar in 1879. Visiting minister meets local girls and love follows. Pleasantly understated. (PB)

A dreamy boy is sacked from his job with a New England glass merchant and receives kindness only from his employer's daughter. Two years later he is an artist in the South of France, has just completed a painting of their parting scene, and meets the daughter in the flesh. Romance. (PB)

On the various reasons given for getting married - most for the sake of doing so in the author's opinion. Concludes with humorous anecdote. (PB)

A family gathering a week before Christmas in Australia hear their grandfather's tale of a youthful Christmas visit from boarding school to a friend's house near Perth in the Cumberland lake district of England. The boys resolve to see if a ruin is haunted and are terrified until they find the clanking chain belongs to the family guard dog. Vivid descriptions and generally well-constructed (though structurally intricate) tale. Suggests that English tales with Australian frame are becoming more common. (PB)

Historical tale of a French officer insulted by a vulgar fellow officer in the 1850s. Forced to fight a duel against his Christian principles he kills his opponent but spends the rest of his life praying in a monastery. (PB)

English romance. Eric, the heir to the noble Saxon family of Warren, disappears one Christmas Eve, just after he has become engaged to the beautiful Olive Mayne. She sends her other suitor Lord Leslie to find him and bring him home. Eric is found in South Australia - the secret of his dishonour confessed - and is persuaded to return home. Full if somewhat inflated tale. (PB)

Paris in the winter of 1869-1870 and an English officer's wife is robbed of the money she believes she is taking to her errant brother. Two years later the mystery is revealed and a scheming military body-servant exposed. Well-told; tone slightly contrived. (PB)

An innocent girl's confession of her approaching marriage to neighbouring squatter Sir Charles Fosberry precipitates her scheming cousin Stella, recently returned from Germany into preventing the marriage. A faithful nurse and loving father, a deceitful groom and treacherous step-brother are some of the characters in this tale of cunning and betrayal. Sentimental ending of an angel claiming the young girl for heaven. (PB)

On the difficulties of carving and the best way to avoid resentment in diners. (PB)

US romance. A city girl trifles with the heart of a frail romantically handsome country man who dies when he discovers she is engaged. Interesting mainly for tone of the account she sends to her fiancee of her deeds - calculating women etc. Sentimental. (PB)