7 NOVEMBER 1896, Page 14

A Serious Comedy. By Herbert Morrah. (Methuen and Co.)- There

is little to be said about this tale, except that it fairly answers to its title. But the author scarcely observes Horace's precept, "quells ab incepto processerit." The Marion to whom we are introduced in chap. 1 is not consistent with the lady of whom we take leave in the last passage. Some of the minor passages are more successful.