QUARRELLING WITH LOIS. By Kathleen Freeman. (Cape. 7s. 6d.)—It is
a pleasant change to read a -novel in which the sex interest is a very minor one. Love, „it is true, has its place in this record of Gregory Anwell, but the story centres around the conflict of will between Gregory and his mother. The Anwells are a West Country family. • In early .youth Gregory .seduced and married a fisherman's daughter, who died soon after the birth of a child, Nellie.
Fourteen years later, Gregory,- now a-great engineer, returns to his, native village. Ile has quarrelled with Lois, a London belle with whom he is in love, and, feeling lonely, he proposes to remove Nellie from his mother's- guardianship and to make her his own companion. He spends under his mother's roof a . week .pf torment and indecision.. Mrs. - Anwell, imperious and subtle, intends to retain Nellie at all costs, but both her schemes and. Gregory's are complicated by village gossip awakened by the indiscretions of Mrs. Anwell's maid and Gregory's; -chauffeur.. . The final upshot is that Gregory decides to leave Nellie and to sue for Lois's pardon; which -is-readily granted. But the- plot is of little moment. The distinction of the story, which throughout is . instinct with life and commendably free from any conformity to type, lies in its characterization and dialogue. The combat between mother and son, both headstrong yet lovable, is very cleverly- delineated,- while the minor figures -supply excellent comic relief..
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