Come Out to Play. By M. E. F. Irwin. (Constable
and Co. 6s.)—The simplicity of this biography of one Truffles is unusual. Miss Irwin takes no account of psychology, makes no detailed inquiry into cause and effect, but gives us just the story of twenty-five years of a boy's life, written, as it were, byan onlooker, in a succession of little studies of atmosphere, and of the impact of other people on his character. The impact came mostly from women, for Truffles was an extravagant lover, and his love was a passing thing of moods and fancies—he loved Pipette, of the "Papillon Jaune," and his sister Jill, and, in early days, Mrs. Mahon, and Cecilia, 'who sat among the primroses. The impression left on ns of lightness, and of a casual lack of direction in the life, is furthered by the quality of the writer's style : "An old hag thrust match-boxes up under his nose; a jewelled aigrette pricked his cheek. The scent of violets, the rustle of silks and laughter, painted lips, the catch of a song, passed him by. It bad always gone on; it always would. Every night in Piccadilly it would always be the same. Always the drum 'went on; always the marionettes danced to it." Only we ,cannot believe that a life so fresh, so irreverent as Traffles's would end in such grim and sudden tragedy.
Previous page
