Mallory's Tryst. By Mrs. Philip Champion De Creepigny. (Mills and
Boon. 6s.)—Mrs. De Crespigny's descriptive resources are overwhelming : we made investigations early in the book, and discovered that in one fertile tract of sixty. seven words, twenty-one were shared between adjectives and adverbs; eo the temptation to take those passages for granted -where 'the scenery is in question is almost irresistible. And, since we are busy with this ungracious task of finding fault, let us say that much of Mrs. De Crespigny's writing shows signs of carelessness; we will forgive her her irritating habit -of omitting the verb, but cannot refrain from quoting the following sentence: "Albinia liked to have the last cry in literature in evidence, as other things, and to do her justice it was born not only of a wish to be 'in the movement,' but of a genuine interest in the progress of events." Much of Mallory's Tryst, however, is delightful reading, for there is a sense of humour underlying the whole book, and the meeting without introduction, and immediate friendship, of Mallory and Gillian almost succeeds in being plausible. Some of the Characters, moreover, are true and attractive, among them Mallory's vague and inconsequent sister; even the heroine might have been lovable, but Mrs. De Crespigny, in a moment, it is to be hoped, 'of idleness, assigned to her eyes of "the colour of a dark blue violet in the shade," which seems to remove her altogether from this commonplace world.
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