NEW NOVELS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18897, 20 December 1924, Page 24 (Supplement)

NEW NOVELS

"The Late Mr. Beverley" (Stanley Paul), by Thomas Cobb.This book fulfils every requirement of the average railway traveller. It is printed in largo type; the plot is clear, definite, and skilfully handled; the characters bear little relation to real life; one is thus enabled to part fron them easily at the end of the journey and to leave the book, as requested, for the use of hospitals, with i the pleasing conviction that even cases of severe head injury may peruse it without danger. "Hugh Roystou'» (Cornstalk Publishing Company), by Katherine Pearson.— With the exception of a meaningless pictorial wrapper, everything about "Hugh Royston" is delightful. It is a simple, sincere and moving picturo of family life before and after the war, and the naturalness of the treatment reminds one at times of that master of the quiet English novel, "Archibald Marshall." The story of a boy, misunderstood and driven from home by his father, who makes a favourite of a charming but unstable elder brother, and of the subsequent return of tho misunderstood one as a cripple and a V.C., might easily have degenerated into sloppy sentimentality, and it is to Miss Katherine Pearson's credit that it does not. She also has tho temerity to make Hugh revel unashamedly in the delights of his unexpected inheritance instead of showing that sublime contempt for "mere dross" which distinguishes the true hero of a best-seller.

ri dit in the bank near the little pool. Let us go and get some eggs." But Joan said that would bo much too cruel, and in spite of Peter grumbling that there was nothing batter to do, they lay in the grass, each one deep in thought, trying to invent something to do. " Aha!" said Peter, in a deep voice, after a long silence, " I've got a lovely plan." Up sat Joan and Boy. "Please tell us quickly, because it will soon bo time for our morning milk, and we haven't much time." But Peter lay in the grass chuckling to himself. " No, you must guess, and I'll allow you six guesses each." "Oh, silly," said Joan crossly, I'm going to the house, because I know you'll, never tell, and I'm not going to guess." " Well," said Peter, as she and Boy got up slowly, " perhaps I'll tell you if you bring me my milk here." " That I won't do," said Joan, " for I'm sure it's only a plan of yours to get us to bring your milk down here, and I suppose that, is what you meat) by your 'lovely plan'." Now this was teasing, and Peter got cross. " All right, if you don't believe me. I have got a plan, and—l'll tell you! Let us go and spy out the Haramerkop's nest!" There was a breathless silence as he said this. Joan and Boy sat down to gape at, Peter, for the plan was one which they would never have dared to suggest. The Hamrnerkop nest, which looks like a large bundle of sticks, all just thrown together anyhow, was perched far up on a ledge on the stony hill near tho farm. The children had always longed to go and explore it, for it looked so interesting, but their father had forbidden them to do so, c.s the climb was far 100 dangerous. " Peter," said Joan very seriously, "yon know quite well that we could never do that, and it is naughty of you to think of if;" end Baby Bob nodded his head slowly in agreement, and said, "Yes, and just think how cross daddy will be." But Peter was feeling grumpy from the heat, an I <;vould not listen to them. He just said, 'Pooh, you arc both afraid," and then la / on his back with his knees crossed i.nc his arms under his head, whistling as loudly as ho could. So Joan and I Soy walked slowly up to the house for their milk, and Peter lay as flat as he could, and peeped at them through the lucerne. He was more determined than ever now to carry out his plan, and he watched the two until they were out of right. Then Peter slipped quietly out of tho lucerne field, through the ostrich camp, and ran towards the red hill that stood up out of the veld at one side of the farm. It .was not long before ho had reached tho veld, and had begun climbing the stony kopjo. Ho could sen the hammerkop's nest perched high up on the i ledge, and his heart beat when, he thought l of his, danng.