New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-19
NEW NOVELS.
The Story of a Woman Too Tenderly
BeIoUed.

a SPIRIT IN PRISON. By Robert Hichens.
Illustrated by Cyrus Cuneo. limo. pp. 66a.
Harper Bros.
HILARY ON HER OWN. By Mabel Barnes
Company.
pP. 80. Houghton, Mtff1n & Co.
Two years ago MI Hichens published senti-
mental story entitled The Call of the Blood"
The hero was young Englishman with Sicilian
blood in his veins. The woman he married and
whom he took to Sicily for the honeymoon was
genuinely in love with him, but she thought
nothing OF leaving him temporarily IN order to
nurse a sick friend. novelist In her absence
Maurice Delarey engaged in a vulgar intrigue
which led to his tragic death Mr.. Kitchens
made long enough tale out Of this curious
business, but apparently he was not satisfied to
drop it He has written another volume
continuing his drama" Even more than its
predecessor, it makes wonder what has come
over the author OF The Garden Of Allah" That
was remarkably good book, having IN 1t much
more than the cleverness by which Mr. Hichens
had previously made himself known. "A Spirit
in Prison is not even clever Hermione De-
larey reappears in It, unaware Of what evil her
husband had been up to before his death. but
somehow strangely troubled Their daughter.
now a bright girl in her teens, gives her a GER
tain amount Of happiness, but her soul Is dis
satisfied She talks over the subject with the
novelist aforesaid Frenchnan named Emile
Artois They talk and they talk and they talk.
They are forever talking. The reader is very
nearly bored to death
There is a purpose underlying this prodgious-
~ verbose narrative. Mr.. Hichens asks cur
sympathy for Hermione because she is a spirit
in prison. and it interests him TO illustrate the
significance Of the peculiar kind of captivity to
10
dark he says "She was in an sirless place.
She was deprived Of the true liberty, that great
freedom which is the accurate knowledge Of the
essential truths Of our own individual lives
Artots knew that the isherboy Ruffo, suddenly
brought into Hernione's life. was her husbands
son. Gaspare. her faithful servitor, knew 1t
also But both Of them loved her too well to
make her unhappy by enlightening her, where
UPON OF course, she proceeded to accumulate
unhsppiness for herself It is conceivable that
an effective story might be made out Of the
emotional experience Of & woman thus stu
ated-her vague unrest, her slowly developed
susuicious and her final illumination affording
some scope for the subtle psychologist. But in
MI atchens's hands the motive is exploited
with really astonishing duIness Long before
tbe climax comes the reader gets tired Of wait
ing for it. and he is the more wearied because
e. "a foreseen SO early in the book. There is a
little Neapolitan nobleman introduced who is
mildly amusing, but the rest of the characters
s,,pposed TO be much his supericrs. have not a
+ithe of his vitality. It is to be hoped that Mr.
Hichens will not carry Ruro and Delarey's
daughter into another book. The talent used
"a such good purpose in THE Garden of Allah
should be reserved for better things.
hillary on Her Own is not the kind of novel
which one takes too seriously The girlish hero
inc Is very girlsh, indeed. Her sudden resolu-
+ion 10 escape from the monotony OF a com
Portable home IN the country. and to seek her
living In London, is treated by Mrs. Barnes-
Crundy with attempt TO be desperately
mantle This author has no problem TO solve.
Her heroine is not put forth as representative
NJ tnuumbered gifted young women, eating
,,sir hearts out In coziness and yearning 10
.enlarge wonan's sphere" Hilary could not
n. q eufrragette if she tried. She is mere
fun of loyable fenininity bubbling over with