15 DECEMBER 1906, Page 22

The Modern Way. By Mrs. W. K. Clifford. (Chapman and

Hall. 6s.)—More than one of these stories might be credited with the title of the last tale in the volume, "A Grey Romance." ' They certainly are not a cheerful collection, and it requires all Mrs. Clifford's literary oharni to chain the reader's attentien to her rather eolourless narratives. It is possible to say of only one of the stories, "Freddie's Engagement," what the Frenchman said of the Academy, au mains c'est gai. The 'stories are not gay ; indeed, the last one is really quite unnecessarily dreary. Mrs. Clifford can do much better work than this. Short stories cannot be said to be the medium in which her talent is best exhibited.