If neither book of short stories before me is what Americans call "the goods," I can, at any rate, say that _Ancient Mariners_ (MILLS AND BOON) does infinite credit to Mr. MORLEY ROBERTS'S imagination. These yarns of seafaring men are salt with the savour of the sea and with the language thereof. Of the seven my favourite is "Potter's Plan," which not only contains the qualities to be found in the other half-dozen, but also has an ingenuity all its own. But perhaps you will prefer "A Bay Dog-Watch," as coming home to the general bosom, for it deals with a ferocious hunt after matches which recalls the deadly days of the shortage. Of the five stories in Mr. WARWICK DEEPING'S _Countess Glika_ (CASSELL) the best is "Bitter Silence." Here the author deals with essentials, and gives us a tale entirely free from artificiality. The remaining stories are marred by their lack of naturalness; but Mr. DEEPING is never at a loss for incident, and he can write dialogue which is often gay and sometimes witty. * * * * * [Illustration: THE PASSING OF THE COUPON. _Our Grocer_ (_gone dotty with joy_). "SHE LOVES ME--SHE LOVES ME NOT--SHE LOVES ME!"]