11 JANUARY 1913, Page 23

FICTION.

HOcKEN AND ERTNKEN.*

WHEN high spirits are combined with a gift of fanciful characterization and a notable charm of style the results are necessarily engaging, and this happy union is conspicuously illustrated in " Q's " latest addition to the chronicles of his Cornish Troy. But before we come to the story let us note a decorative aspect of "Q's" work, in which he has always excelled felicittrttl use of nomenclature. Here, of course, he is helped by the notorious picturesqueness of the Cornish names. Bosenna is a perfect phonetic equivalent for the buxom widow to whom is entrusted the r6le of heroine: Even if they were • Hasten and Hushes: a Tale of Troy. By "Q.": Deaden: Bleekneed and. Sons. Ice.]

dull, instead of being delightful in their different ways, we could hardly fail to be interested in John Peter Nanjulian, Peter Bussa, Shakespeare Benny or Fancy Tabb and Simeon

l'oy. And where could we find a more happily-named scene for a comedy of courtship than Rilla Farm ?

Himself eminently amphibious in his tastes, " Q " writes with peculiar sympathy of the two sea-captains who have eided to spend the evening of their days on land. They are both Cornishmen—Cains Hocken from Troy (alias Fowey),

and Tobias Hunken from Padstow, at the other aide of the Duchy—and bachelors, and they are ready to submit a friend- ship of twenty years' standing to the test of living cheek by jowl on shore. Their tastes are simple and so are their characters. Captain Cal is more genial and expansive than 'Bias, who passes for a misogynist, but long and loyal associa- tion has so identified their interests that their relations arealmost fraternal and their mental processes practically undistinguish- able. And by the irony of fate it is this very convergence that comes near wrecking the friendship of a lifetime. As in the real Troy, a woman is the cause of strife. The captains are tenants of Mrs. Bosenna, the attractive young widow; business relations involve visits, visits lead to hospitality— Mrs. Bosenna fully understands the lure of cookery--and hospitality engenders the tender passion. Captain Hocken imagines himself to be the favoured suitor, never dreaming that his comrade could contemplate matrimony. When the awful truth dawns upon him, he readily acquiesces in the arrangement that they should both propose by letter simultaneously. Unfortunately their lack of epistolary skill prompts them to call in the aid of a professional letter- writer—with disastrous results, since the two letters are identical in phraseology. The discovery is not made until the letters have been posted and received ; the widow adopts a pose of righteous indignation ; the two old friends are estranged ; and the situation is only saved by a financial crisis in their fortunes, in which Captain Hocken comes to the rescue of his comrade. As for Mrs. Bosenna, we must refer the reader to the novel itself for enlightenment as to the ultimate choice of that amiable man-eater.

As usual " Q " is strong in his handling of the minor characters. Perhaps, on the whole, we must give the palm to Fancy Tabb, a modern counterpart of Dickens's Marchioness, a

small girl of strong character and dauntless resolution, whose management of her employer, Mr. Rogers, a cynical paralytic, and indeed of everyone else, is nothing short of masterly.

Fancy Tabb is the good genius of the story, since she is the chief instrument of reconciliation. Mrs. Bowldler, the timorous housekeeper who had seen better days, is a priceless conversationalist, as may be gathered from the following passage. Palmerston, it should be explained, was an ex-workhouse boy who assisted her in her ministrations.

"It was suspected that she had mica been a kitchen-maid in the West End of London : but a discreet veil hung over this past, and she never lifted it save by whatever of confession might be read into the words, 'When we were in residence in Eaton Square '- with which she preluded all reminiscences (and they were frequent) of the great metropolis. Her true test as a good woman she passed when—although she must have known the truth, being a confirmed innocent gossip—she chose to extend the same veil, or a corner of it, over the antecedents of Palmerston. She said, The past is often enveloped. In the best families it is notoriously so. We know what we are, an' may speckilate on what we was ; but what we're to be, who can possibly tell ? It might give us the creeps.' She said again, 'Every man carries a button in his knapsack, by which he may rise sooner or later to higher things. It was said by a Frenchman, and a politer nation you would not find.' Again, Blood will tell, always supposin' you 'ave it, and will excuse the expression.' Thus did Mrs. Bowldler 'turn her necessity to glorious gain,' colouring and enlarging her sphere of service under the prismatic lens of romance. In her conversation either cottage became a residence,' and its small garden 'the grounds,' thus, Palmerston, inform Captain Hunken that dinner is served. You will find him in the grounds.' Or, Where's that boy ? ' Captain Cal might ask. Palmerston, sir ? He is at present in the adjacent, cleaning the knives and forks.' She had indeed set this high standard of expression in the very act of taking service ; when, being asked what wages she demanded, she answered, If acceptable to you, sir, I would intimate eighteen guineas—and my viands." That's two shil- ling short o' nineteen pound,' said Captain Hanken. 'I thank you, sir '—Mrs. Bowldler made obeisance-- but I have an attachment to guineas.' She identified herself with her employers by speaking of them in the first person plural : No, we do not dress for dinner. Our rule is to dine in the middle of the day, as more agreeable to health.' [A. sigh.] ' Sometimes I wish we could persuade our- selves that vegetables look better on the side-table.' Such was

Mrs. Bowldler: and her housekeeping, no less vigilant than romantic, protected our Lwo friends from a thousand small domestic cares."

The literary aspirations of Palmerston and of Mr. Benny supply abundant food for mirth ; so also does the indemitable. inquisitiveness of Mr. Philp the undertaker. Altogether " Q " has once more confirmed his claim to high rank in the

limited class of novelists who fortify our optimism with. hilarity.