19 MAY 1923, Page 21

Speed the Plough. By Mary Butte. (Chapman and Hall. 7s.

6d.)

Miss Butts's manner in these short stories is hysterical and rather shocking : she over-reaches herself repeatedly. By a somewhat foolish obscurity of style, a slightly ridiculous over- subtlety in the sophistication of the semi-mystical love interest which is her chief psychological stock-in-trade, she quite over- weights whatever significance the original idea may have had, and barely even holds the reader's attention. The title- piece is worthless : " In Bayswater " shows an occasional gleam of merit, but finally overcomes the reader with ennui, which is a pity.