THE WAITING ROOM. By G. Grange. (Dent. 5s.).- Here we
have a ghost story which is very unbelievable. In it the author tries to tell us what he imagines men, who were killed in the War, would be likely to think of it when their own part was over. In order to do this he presents himself to us as a soldier, who, in the course of a visit to Notre Dame d'Ataiens, meets with a long-dead Bishop who has been allowed to appear in the flesh again. This prelate's clothes are much too small for him : he says : " I omitted' to pray for clothes, but Our Lady did not take advantage, and I found these hanging up within." After the soldier's astonishment has waned a little, the Bishop leads him to a cemetery, where they stop to rest. While they are sitting there a number of French, German; Cockney and Prussian ghosts gather round- and begin to talk of the War. Presently they arg joined by the ghost of a girl munition-maker who was killed by an explosion in England,- and who has come in search of the ghost of a man to whom she used to write. Apparently she is bored by the ghostly controversy, for presently she remarks : " They didn't ought to have wars in- waiting-room worlds: What's the •use of dying if you can't get peace and quiet." Her contribution to the conversation is much the best, and we are glad when the last ghost goes away, and the narrator of the story is left alone with the Bishop's robe.
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