Loot. By Horace Annesley Vachell. (John Murray. 63.) —Mr. Vachell,
in the preface to his new book, assumes an apologetic attitude for giving to the world a collection of short stories instead of a more solid contribution to literature ; and justifies his strange title with the explanation that all pecuniary advantage which he may obtain from their publics. tion may be considered as loot from the Temple of Fortune. We will not grudge him whatever loot may come to him, fer nothing is more difficult of achievement than the writing of an entirely satisfactory short story ; to be perfect, it must be as complete and rounded as a long novel; there must be in it a pinch of every ingredient—of plot, of drawing of character, of vivid description, above all of charm of style. The chief fault of Mr. Vachell's stories is that they are not so rounded, that there is a tendency to create effect in the last few sentences, and to depend for their plot nether upon surprise than upon natural consequence. Otherwise, the loot would be justly earned, for, although his sketches occasionally become almost too light, and leave but little substance in our grasp, Mr. Vaehell has the deftness of touch necessary to such slender drawing, and a brilliant, inconsequent imagination.
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