“This novel is as amusing, piquant, droll, and suggestive as it can be. It overflows with humour, nor are there wanting touches of genuine feeling. To considerable imaginative power, the writer joins keen observation.”--_Daily News._ “‘Sophy’ throughout displays accurate knowledge of widely differing forms of character, and remarkable breadth of view. It is one of the few current novels that may not impossibly stand the test of time.”--_Graphic._ STRICTLY TIED UP. By the Right Hon. A. J. B. BERESFORD HOPE, M.P. “A clever story. In ‘Strictly Tied Up’ we have vigorous sketches of life in very different circumstances and conditions. We have the incisive portraiture of character that shows varied knowledge of mankind. We have a novel, besides, which may be read with profit as well as pleasure.”--_Times._ “‘Strictly Tied Up’ is entertaining. It is in every sense a novel conceived in a light and happy vein. The scheme of the story is well proportioned and worked out in all its complications with much care and skill.”--_Athenæum._ “This novel may be described as a comedy of life and character. There is humour as well as excitement in the book, and not a few of the descriptions both of people and scenery are exceedingly graphic and piquant.”--_Saturday Review._ HIS LITTLE MOTHER: and Other Tales. By the Author of “John Halifax, Gentleman.” “This is an interesting book, written in a pleasant manner, and full of shrewd observation and kindly feeling. It is a book that will be read with interest, and that cannot be lightly forgotten.”--_St. James’s Gazette._ “The Author of ‘John Halifax’ always writes with grace and feeling, and never more so than in the present volume.”--_Morning Post._ “‘His Little Mother’ is one of those pathetic stories which the author tells better than anybody else.”--_John Bull._ “This book is written with all Mrs. Craik’s grace of style, the chief charm of which, after all, is its simplicity.”--_Glasgow Herald._ “We cordially recommend ‘His Little Mother.’ The story is most affecting. The volume is full of lofty sentiments and noble aspirations, and none can help feeling better after its perusal.”--_Court Journal._ LONDON: HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS. FOOTNOTES: [1] A mussack is the entire skin of a sheep or goat. In India our bhiesties (water-carriers) bring water from the wells in no other way. Bowed down under the weight of a huge mussack full of water, a man has the appearance of carrying a living animal.