FICTION.
THE CLINTONS AND OTHERS.*
Ma. ARCHIBALD MARSHALL'S leisurely methods do not always lend themselves to the short story, and " Audacious Ann," which occupies just one-third of this volume, is far and away the best as well as the longest thing in it. It is in a way a tour de force, for life in a girls' school would not seem to be a promising subject for a male writer. He must run the risk either of appearing to play the part of a Peeping Tom or of drawing upon his imagination.. In short, he exposes himself to the charge of knowing too much or tco little. Mr. Marshall has surmounted these difficulties with per- fect taste and discretion, and given us an entirely charming study of a little girl, precocious yet never unpleasant, who combines, in virtue of her mixed parentage, French vivacity and wit with a truly English capacity for playing the game. But Ann was not an ordinary child. She was a Printers Charming who refused to be spoiled, who prized her independents above popularity, who could not suffer fools or prigs gladly, and was yet capable of stoical fortitude on a point of honour. We can forgive Mr. Marshall for straining probability in prolonging Ann's ordeal because of the exceedingly skilful use he has made of the opportunity in bringing out the best and worst in her schoolmates. Though it is a minor tragi-comedy, it is made memorable by the grace and humour and sympathy of the treatment. We hope to hear more of " Audacious Ann," for this is only a brief episode, and, besides, Mr. Marshall excels in sequels. Kencote " is a vigorous sketch of Regency manners in which a solid City merchant upsets the schemes of a raffish brother by an appeal to Caesar in the person of " the first gentleman " himself. " In that State of Life " is an uncon- ventional comedy of courtship with two scientific geniuses as hero and heroine. But while Lord Kimmeridge was helpless outside his laboratory, Dr. Margaret Platter, who had risen from the ranks, was a thoroughly capable young woman in all capaci- ties. The story tells how she finally extricated herself from an impossible situation, and regained not only her self-respect but the goodwill of the Peer's mother, who had unjustly sus- pected her of being a mere adventuress. Of the rest, " The Bookkeeper " is almost too unrelieved a record of unmerited misfortune, while " The Squire and the War " deals with the exacting and often inconsiderate patriotism of a type of elderly non-combatant. Mr. Marshall handles this delicate theme with his wonted kindliness; but we prefer the sketch of the self-made builder, who amassed a fortune by honest and competent work, but employed good materials in the multiplication of perfectly hideous houses. The deniiinsat, in which he is lured into • The aintons and Others. By Archibald Marshall. London : Call aI. [7s. net.]
engaging a first-rate and terribly outspoken architect to design his own• house, is artfully contrived, but Mr. Marshall is careful not to overdo its Poetic justice.
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